Suburban rail work to begin soon: Minister

'Private firm's plan for shops below Kamaraj Road may be considered'

The work on the first phase of the suburban rail network connecting Yeshwantpur with Tumakuru, Whitefield with Baiyyappanahalli and Mandya with Kengeri is set to begin soon.

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George told reporters on Monday that the first phase would cost Rs 1,000 crore and would be shared by the state and the Centre. The first phase of the suburban rail would augment the Metro rail network, he said. The state government has released Rs 100 crore for the project.

The minister said that a private company had come forward with a proposal to have underground shops and vehicle parking facilities below Kamaraj Road, which connects Commercial Street and Brigade Road.

George said that the proposal was in the initial stage and the company had evinced interest in taking up the project under the public-private partnership-model. “The proposal is to connect Commercial Street and Brigade Road with shops at one underground level and parking at another underground level,” he said.

The government will first have an internal discussion on the feasibility of such a project and then hold talks with the company, the minister said.

East-West corridor

George said the East-West corridor of Namma Metro connecting Baiyyappanahalli and Mysuru Road will be thrown open to the public in 10 to 15 days. The underground stations in this section include Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Sir M Visvesvaraya and city railway station.

The North-South line between Peenya and Kempegowda station is expected to be completed in 2 to 3 months. Tunnelling under Chickpet had to be taken up at a slow pace to ensure no damage was caused to old structures and heritage buildings above the ground, the minister said. Tunnelling work between Sampige Road and Kempegowda stations will be completed on Tuesday, with tunnel boring machine Godavari breaking out of its access pit.

Priority had been accorded for completing the Peripheral Ring Road, connecting Tumakuru Road and Hosur Road, to tackle the city’s traffic woes, he said.