BENGALURU: In a huge relief to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), the High Court has given it the green signal to construct the Kothanur depot for the Nagawara-Gottigere line. Readying the depot is crucial for the Metro link line to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) as the line is an extension of the Nagawara line.
BMRCL had acquired 30 acres in Kothanur village for the depot to facilitate stabling and maintenance work of trains. However, before the compensation could be settled, dispute within a family resulted in the matter being taken to the High Court. The compensation was stayed and further work in connection with the depot came to a standstill.
A top Metro official told Express that the HC on Friday asked the Karnataka Industrial and Development Board (KIADB), which takes care of all compensation related to land, to deposit the amount due to the landowners to the court’s account. It will be paid to the landowner after the case is settled.
“The final notification in connection with the land can now be issued under Section 28 (4) of the KIADB Act, and BMRCL can go ahead with the construction work,” the official said.Barring the five train depots for Phase-II, the BMRCL has acquired, as well as paid compensation for, most of the 72.1-km of the project.
Apart from Kothanur, Anjanapura, Hebbagodi, Challaghatta and Whitefield are the depots for Phase-II.
General Manager, Land Acquisition, BMRCL, M S Channappa Goudar told Express, “We have paid `2,439 crore as compensation for the 112 acres acquired by us. The Corporation requires nearly 250 acres for Phase-II. We are doing our best to speed up the process.”