Estimated cost Rs. 14,500 crore; tenders invited
BENGALURU:
The Kempegowda International Airport (also known as BIAL) has grown in leaps and bounds since opening in 2008. During 2018-19, the airport clocked 24 million-plus passengers and is the country’s third busiest airport after Delhi and Mumbai. But mass public transport connectivity was a minus point, except for BMTC’s Volvo services to the airport.
Metro connectivity to the airport was a long-pending demand, and now the state government has given the green signal for the link, work on which will commence this year. The BJP government has announced construction of the 56-km Outer Ring Road-Airport metro link from the Central Silk Board junction to BIAL via KR Puram and Hebbal at an estimated cost of Rs. 14,500 crore.
Puneeth, a regular airport commuter, said, “The entire traffic to the airport is completely road-centric, resulting in huge traffic congestion. Unfortunately, even after 11 years of the airport’s opening, the metro line to the airport has been delayed. Finally, the government has announced it in the budget.”
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has invited tenders for a major chunk of the Central Silk Board junction-airport line. A survey to ascertain the number of properties on the metro stretch has been completed. Officials said tenders have been invited in the form of two packages for the 19.5 km stretch on the Outer Ring Road line from Silk Board to KR Puram (Phase 2A), involving 13 stations. But tenders for the work between KR Puram and the airport (Phase 2B) have been delayed.
