Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport will have two metro stations. A detailed project report (DPR) was submitted in this regard, by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to the CM’s office on Tuesday for approval.
The DPR prepared by BMRCL estimates Rs 5,900 crore for the airport line which will cover a distance of 29km.
“The route will have six stations. This includes the two metro stations inside Kempegowda International Airport,” a senior BMRCL official told TNM.
The airport line will be an extension of the Gottigere-Nagawara metro line of Phase-II. The airport line will halt at Hegde Nagar, Jakkur, Yelahanka (Kogilu Cross) and Chikkajala before reaching the international airport.
“This extension of metro line to the airport will not be an underground one. It will be completely elevated. Except for the Yelahanka Metro Station, which will be at ground level, all other stations will be built on the elevated line,” the official added.
BMRCL expects Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to approve the DPR by Monday after which it will be tabled before the state cabinet for its approval.
The cost was initially estimated to be around Rs 4,000 crore, however, it has increased due to the proposed land acquisition from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the senior official added.
This is the second DPR prepared by BMRCL after the KR Puram-Silk Board route. The DPR was submitted to Bengaluru Development Minister KJ George on September 21.
In May, the Karnataka State had finalised the route from nine different suggestions made by BMRCL.
Journeying from Nagavara to the international airport could take between 25 minutes to 30 minutes.
BMRCL has designed railway tracks where the train can run at a speed of 100 km per hour. Currently, the metro tracks are designed for trains running at a speed of 80 km per hour.
“Although the maximum speed achieved by these trains in Phase 1 is 80 kmph, they usually run at a speed of 35 kmph. Although the new metro line to the airport can achieve a speed of 100 kmph, the trains will ply at a speed of 60 kmph,” the senior official added.
BMRCL officials say that the Red Line (Gottigere to Nagavara) needs to be completed before the airport line is constructed.
The 21.25km Red Line consists of a 13.9km underground corridor from Dairy Circle to Nagawara. BMRCL is planning to deploy 12 tunnel boring machines for digging the underground tunnels for this route. Due to the tough geographical conditions, the deadline for completion of this line has been set for 2020.
This line will start from Nagavara and go through Thanisandra Road up to Hegde Nagar. The train will then pass through Jakkur and later reach the University of Agricultural Sciences. The line will pass through the Airport Road and go through Trumpet Flyover from where it will turn right turn and reach the international airport.