Metro link to Whitefield: Bids floated in 2 packages

Estimated cost of project is Rs 666.12 crore

In a major step towards providing Metro connectivity to Whitefield, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Thursday invited bids to take up construction work between Kundanahalli and Whitefield (Reach I-B), without waiting for the land acquisition to get over.

The BMRCL has planned to take up the work in two packages. The tender contract involves construction of elevated structures (viaduct and stations) of 7.2 km length from Visvesvaraya Industrial Area station (excluding) to Whitefield station (including), viaduct line entry to Whitefield depot and road widening works.

The seven elevated Metro stations are Kundanahalli, Vydehi Hospital, Sri Satya Sai Hospital, ITPL , Kadugodi, Ujwala Vidyalaya and Whitefield in extension of Phase II.

The BMRCL has set a deadline of 27 months to complete the work from the date of awarding work order. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 666.12 crore. The BMRCL has also mentioned that it is in talks with Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, a German government-owned development bank for funds.

The corporation has identified a maximum of up to six acres near Baiyappanahalli railway station to set up casting yard. The land would be provided to the contractor on license fee basis at the rate of Rs 1.36 lakh per acre per month.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director, BMRCL told DH that the corporation has split the work into two packages to ensure that the contractors complete the work faster.

“Land acquisition process between Kundanahalli to Whitefield is in the final stage. The tender process takes around two to three months. Meanwhile, we are confident to take required land in to our possession”, he said.

Kharola said the tender would be floated in a few days for the remaining stretch from Baiyappanahalli Metro station to Kundanahalli (Reach 1-A). Another BMRCL official said properties on this stretch are yet to be acquired and the process may need a few more days.

Phase-2

Apart from the Whitefield extension, the BMRCL has also taken up civil work on Mysuru road Metro station and Yelachenahalli Metro station. Recently, it also invited bids for the construction work of elevated Metro corridor from Nagasandra to Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre.

While the Bommasandra extension from RV Road is stuck with land acquisition issues, the BMRCL is yet to take up Gottigere-Nagawara Metro project.