BENGALURU: While the Underground Corridor of Metro’s Phase-I got delayed due to the breakdown of Tunnel Boring Machines and uncertain rock soil conditions, the work on underground stretch of Phase-II is now encountering another hurdle: permission from the Defence department. Land required for three Metro stations runs under Defence land and unless it is handed over to the Banglaore Metro Rail Corporation quickly, it threatens to delay the Nagawara-Gottigere Line.
This line is of crucial importance as it will be extended to form the Metro airport link line.To put in place the M G Road, Vellara Junction and Langford Town Metro stations on this Reach-6 Line, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) requires Defence land under two categories: 3419.16 square metres are required permanently while 13426.22 square metres are required temporarily, said a senior BMRCL official. The land taken on a temporary basis will be returned after the project is completed, he said.
“Much correspondence and a few meetings have taken place with Defence officials in connection with this land for nearly two years now. The latest letter from the state government requesting the land urgently was sent by the Urban Development department just three weeks ago,” the official said.However, this has not deterred BMRCL from calling for tenders for M G Road and Vellara Junction stations last month.
The Nagawara-Gottigere Line will have the longest underground corridor (13.9 km) of both Phase-I and Phase-II of Metro with 12 stations. Dairy Circle, Mico Industries, Langford Town, Vellara Junction, M G Road, Shivajinagar, Bamboo Bazaar, Pottery Town, Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Arabic College and Nagawara comprise the UG stations. The underground section will meet the East West Corridor at the M G Road Interchange Metro station. The UG stretch alone costs Rs 11,014 crore out of the Rs 26, 405 crore project.
The elevated corridor will be 7.5 kms and comprises 6 Metro stations. “Nearly 65% of the land acquisition has been completed for it from Gottigere to Swagath Cross,” an official said.Metro Phase-II (barring newly added lines Phase 2A and Phase 2B) has a deadline of March 2021. Asked if could delay the whole line and in effect the completion of Phase-II, another official said, “Even if the Defence department quickly takes a decision now and hands over the land, we can compensate for the lost time.”
