Namma Metro MD inspects airport line, wants speedy completion

Bengaluru: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) Managing Director J Ravishankar on Thursday inspected the ongoing construction on the Blue Line from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) to Hebbal. 

According to a BMRCL statement, the inspection covered critical infrastructure works including viaduct construction, station buildings, and the upcoming depot (at Shettigere). 

He also reviewed high-priority locations such as railway crossings and cut-and-cover sections near the Indian Air Force (IAF) premises. 

The MD instructed the BMRCL engineers and contractors to strictly adhere to the target completion dates and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure by upholding safety protocols. 

The 58.19-km Silk Board Junction-KR Pura-KIA metro line will connect the city's southern, southeastern, eastern and northern areas with the airport. 

A senior BMRCL official, who was present during the inspection, said construction on the KR Pura-KIA section (Phase 2A) had picked up pace after being held up for nine months in 2023 due to the fatal accident in HBR Layout. 

"Construction is going on but we cannot make up for lost time. We're also facing a shortage of construction workers. In fact, we have only 50% of the required manpower. We mostly source workers from states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. But with big infrastructure projects going on in all parts of the country, workers from these states aren't coming in as much as before," the official told DH. 

The two metro stations within the airport premises are also shaping up well, according to the airport. 

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is constructing both stations according to its design specifications. 

The Airport City will be an at-grade station while the Airport Terminal will be a partially underground station, about 7-8 metres below surface. 

The BMRCL has completed land acquisition for the Shettigere depot, where Blue Line trains will be serviced. 

"Construction at the depot has been going on at a satisfactory pace," another official said. 

The airport line's new deadline is early 2027.