Karnataka Chief Secretary to chair crucial meeting on Hebbal depot this week

Bengaluru: Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh is expected to chair a crucial meeting this week to review Namma Metro’s proposal for acquiring land in Hebbal for constructing a depot and a multi-modal transport hub. 

The meeting gains significance amid mounting pressure from the real estate lobby to reduce the metro’s proposed land requirement from 45 acres to just 9 acres. 

In July last year, Namma Metro had offered to buy the 45-acre land for an estimated Rs 551.15 crore. It planned to use the land for train maintenance for the Sarjapur–Hebbal line (Phase 3A) as well as the JP Nagar 4th Phase–Kempapura (Phase 3) and Silk Board Junction-KR Pura–Kempegowda International Airport (Phase 2A/2B) lines. It also planned a multi-modal hub, multi-level parking facility, etc. 

Subsequently, multiple meetings were held to facilitate the transfer of land from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to Namma Metro.

However, a few real estate developers began pressuring the government to revive the 2004 agreement, which included plans for commercial development. The builders reportedly cited a court order allowing the private party to acquire the land at old compensation rates. The KIADB is yet to challenge this, it's learnt. 

There are two instances of the state government transferring KIADB land for public projects: four acres to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for a road project, and 6,712 square metres to Namma Metro for constructing a metro station and a viaduct on the airport line. 

In his letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former minister and Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar appealed not to bow to pressure from political and real estate lobbies. 

"The BMRCL’s request for 45 acres of land has been under review with the government since March last year. This delay is adversely affecting the metro’s plans for the route connecting the airport line. If the government forces the BMRCL to compromise on a crucial project, we will launch an agitation against the government’s evil moves,” he warned. 

He suspected that the large portion of the identified land would be handed over to a private developer who wants to build a premium township project, including a five-star hotel, a mall and a resort. 

"On the other hand, Namma Metro projects will help tens of thousands of metro users, freeing them from travelling on congested roads,” he said, asking the government to prioritise public interest over private interest.