The Karnataka government has finally decided the route for the metro rail connection to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister, KJ George, on Tuesday, held a meeting with MLAs at the Vidhana Soudha and finalised the Nagavara-Bagalur route for the metro train connection to KIA.
However, of the four routes proposed in this zone, the government is yet to zero in on one route. Also, the government, which was mulling over the decision of installing a high-speed train to the airport has scrapped the plan and chosen to go ahead with the metro rail construction.
According to Bengaluru Development Minister, KJ George, several routes were proposed for the metro connection to the airport and these were uploaded on the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) website for public opinion.
The proposed routes included Mekhri Circle-Hebbal-Yelahanka, Yeshwanthpur-Yelahanka-Kannur-Bagalur, Yeshwanthpur-Kodigehalli-Yelahanka-Trumpet Flyover, Nagavara-Yelahanka-Trumpet Flyover, KR Puram-Boodikere Cross-Singahalli, Nagavara-Kogilu Layout-Yelahanka-Trumpet Flyover, Nagavara-Bellahalli-Kannur-Bagalur, Nagavara-Kannur-Bagalur and Nagavara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town.
“Of these routes, the four routes proposed in Nagavara received the maximum approvals and the Nagavara-Bellahalli-Kannur-Bagalur route gathered 5,560 votes. The Nagavara-Kannur-Bagalur received 5,180 approvals, Nagavara-Kogilu Layout-Yelahanka-Trumpet Flyover received 5,166 approvals and Nagavara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town route received 4,656 approvals. We are yet to decide on which of these four routes, the metro line should be constructed,” KJ George said.
Byatarayanapura MLA, Krishna Byre Gowda, also said that the Nagavara-Bagalur route seemed the most practical and a decision would be taken soon after looking at the feasibility report.
According to Traffic Expert, MN Sreehari, the Nagavara-Bagalur route is the best one for construction of the metro rail, as there would not be additional road widening cost in this area.
“The width of the road is 36m. For metro rail, the required space is 18m. On this route, vehicles can also ply and at the same time, the metro rail line can be laid without resorting to land acquisition and going through the ordeal of compensation and then widening the road before laying the track,” he added.