Metro station at Madina Ground saves time: BMRCL

The BMRCL on Thursday explained the reasons for changing the location of the Cantonment Metro station, claiming that the new alignment will save time and cost and will be safer than the original design.

Unveiling detailed maps of the original and new alignments, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola said the original alignment between Pottery Town and Shivajinagar has several technical and safety complications which will not only delay the project but will have long-term implications.

Kharola and additional chief secretary, Urban Development Department, Mahendra Jain, briefed the press following protests against the change of the Metro station’s location by activists who said the new location will cut off the railway station from the Metro station.

“Building a Metro station opposite the Cantonment railway station will involve close to 90 degree curves which is not advisable for a line that will connect the airport. Instead, locating it at Bamboo Bazaar (Madina Ground) will also cut 800 metres length of the line and save close to Rs 1,000 crore in construction cost,” he said.

Stating that tunnel boring machines (TBMs) show signs of breakdown after digging through a distance of 900 metres, Kharola cited the example of Godavari TBM which broke down near Lutheran Church, delaying the project by at least year.

“If the machine breaks down before 1.8 km, then we may have to abandon that line. Also, we have learnt that it is better to avoid digging under populated areas. In KR Market, the land caved in bringing down a public toilet. A similar incident occurred near Majestic railway station,” he said.

Kharola said the Railway Board has issued new rules specifying that Metro lines can’t pass under railway platforms unless they are 30 metres below the ground. “If the top of the tunnel is to be below 30 metres, the TBM has to burrow at a depth of 40 metres. A station at the depth of 40 metres will be difficult to access,” he said.

He also promised that the Metro station will not affect the Madina Ground as feared by residents around Bamboo Bazaar, who protested the proposed station.

Integration

Kharola showed a design comparing the distance to the railway station from original and new locations of the Metro station.

“The present entry at Cantonment railway station is at one end of the platform. The subway from Bamboo Bazaar will open at the other (east) end. The distance between the Metro and railway station would be 150 metres. Also, we will equip the subway with walkalators,” he claimed.