Karnataka Budget 2018: Rs 2,800 crore assigned to Bangalore Metro; Phase 3 route shorter by 5.5 km

A top Metro official said Rs 2,384 crore was for infrastructure, Rs 300 crore was the government’s equity contribution while Rs 116 crore was towards reimbursement of cash loss.
Bangalore Metro
Bangalore Metro

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has been allocated Rs 2,800 crore for the 72.1-km Phase-II project. The project is estimated to cost a total of Rs 26,405 crore.
BMRCL  Managing Director Ajay Seth said, “The Centre has already given us Rs 2,400 crore. So, from both governments, we have received over Rs 5,000 crore.”

Another top Metro official said of the amount allocated, Rs 2,384 crore was for infrastructure, Rs 300 crore was the government’s equity contribution (shares) while Rs 116 crore was towards reimbursement of cash loss.

Meanwhile, the proposed route for Phase-III spelt out in former chief minister Siddaramaiah ’s budget has been reduced by 5.5 km in Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s budget. The route between Bommasandra and Attibele has been axed now.  Phase-III project will only cover 95 km.

The six routes proposed in the previous budget for Phase-III have been retained: 42.75 km from JP Nagar to KR Puram, 12.5 km from Tollgate to Kadabagere, 3.07 km from Gottigere to Basavapura, 18.95 km from RK Hegdenagar to Aerospace Park, 10.6 km from Kogilu Cross to Rajanakunte and 6.67 km from Ibbalur to Carmelaram. The budget says the study of these routes is being undertaken.

The proposed airport line from Nagawara to BIAL branches off to the left of  RK Hegde Nagar, heads to Jakkur and goes to airport.  It has already been approved by the government.

The proposed RK Hegdenagar to Aerospace Park will go along the right of RK Hegdenagar.
Most of these routes will be elevated and it is expected to cost around Rs 20,000 crore.

Top BMRCL officials were not able to explain the dropping of the Bommasandra-Attibele route. One official even went to the extent of saying it could be just a case of ‘oversight’ by the government.  
Transportation expert Sanjeev Dyammannavar said this route was meant to extend the RV Road to Bommasandra line of Phase-II. “Probably because the line would border Tamil Nadu, it could have been dropped,” he said.  

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