Namma Metro identifies land in Sarjapur to build depot

Bengaluru: Namma Metro has identified 55.69 acres of private land behind Sarjapur Circle for building a depot, which will serve the 36-km Hebbal-Sarjapur metro line.

While a large parcel of the land will house the depot, about 6.65 acres of open land will be earmarked for the staff quarters. The authorities require about Rs 1,224 crore to acquire the private land.

Other than the depot, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has proposed to acquire 45-acre of land parcel in Hebbal for the creation of a multi-modal transport hub, including a stabling yard to support the metro’s daily operations. The land is presently in the custody of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

The transport utility has offered to pay Rs 12.1 crore per acre to the KIADB, which is yet to compensate the landowners, despite taking over the land about two decades ago.

Last October, MB Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, had orally directed the BMRCL authorities to pay a private agency, which was allotted the land, directly, but this is likely to land the officials in trouble as the land is currently in the custody of KIADB.

After Bangalore North MP Shobha Karandlaje wrote to Chief Minister  Siddaramaiah to hand over the KIADB land to the Namma Metro without any delay, Aarin Capital chairman TV Mohandas Pai also urged the Chief Minister to transfer the 45-acre plot in Hebbal to the BMRCL.

“Please help Bengaluru by giving Namma Metro this 45 acres to create an interchange facility for all of us. Not to anybody else. Siddaramaiah, you legacy,” Pai said in a post on social media platform X.

In all, the 36-km Phase III-B is estimated to cost Rs 28,405 crore. This includes the cost of acquisition, which is expected to be around Rs 8,080 crore. The BMRCL requires about 161.65 acres of land for the project.

Officials said the state government has communicated to the BMRCL about the state cabinet’s decision to approve the project. “We can start pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, shifting of utilities immediately without waiting for the Centre’s final nod,” a senior officer told DH.