Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in the august presence of B S Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka to take forward their joint efforts by way of a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) with an innovative financing mode to establish the 4.95 km airport section of the ORR-Airport Metro at an estimated cost of Rs. 800 crores.
This Metro connectivity to BLR Airport, likely to be commissioned by December 2024, would provide a sustainable and efficient mode of transport to the residents and business commuters from all parts of the city, facilitating the city to realize its economic potential and ease traffic congestion on the roads leading to the Airport.
BMRCL will construct the Airport Metro section, along with civil, electro-mechanical, other associated facilities, works and related assets, whereas BIAL will develop, manage and maintain the two metro stations that will be located within the Airport boundary.
This Airport section is a part of the total 56 km metro line named “ORR-Airport Metro” from Central Silk Board Junction to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru Terminals via KR Puram and Hebbal. The ORR-Airport Metro is being established by BMRCL at a total estimated cost of Rs. 14,844 Crores and is likely to serve 7.8 lakh commuters daily. The two stations within the Airport boundaries are likely to see the daily ridership of 0.6 lakh commuters in 2024, increasing to 1.88 lakh commuters by 2041.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister thanked the Government of India for supporting the project as per the Metro Policy 2017 by way equity and long-term external loans from multilateral and bilateral development agencies. He congratulated BIAL and BMRCL for working out this innovative way of financing the much-needed mobility infrastructure for the city.
“All agencies of the state and central governments and stakeholders in the city should work in tandem towards the goal of the comprehensive and integrated multi-modal connectivity infrastructure for the new century as set by Hon’ble Prime Minister in his address to the Nation on the 74th Independence Day”, Yediyurappa said.
“At BIAL, we are extremely excited to participate in enabling metro connectivity to and from Bangalore Airport, creating the potential for easy access between Bengaluru and the Airport. There is an increasing need to offer seamless experiences, and BIAL is committed to offering travel options to simplify the passenger journey,” said Hari Marar, MD & CEO, BIAL while speaking on the occasion.
“We are extremely happy to have BIAL’s support for the vision of “sustainable and efficient transport for all” as set in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan formulated by BMLTA. BMRCL is committed to and is working actively to add 128 km of new metro network in the coming five years”, said Shri Ajay Seth, Managing Director, BMRCL.
The civil work on the Airport metro section is likely to commence in March 2021. The tenders for the civil works of the 56 km metro viaduct and 30 stations, with estimated cost of over Rs. 3,230 crores, have already been called in five packages. The work on the first two packages from Central Silk Board Junction to KR Puram are likely to commence in December 2020, and that on the three packages from KR Puram to the Airport are likely to commence in March 2021. The Airport section and the section from Hebbal to the Trumpet Junction will be prioritised.
Almost two-thirds of the 94 acres of the land required for the ORR-Airport Metro has been acquired and handed over to BMRCL. The balance land is mostly for the metro depot near the Trumpet Junction. The shifting of the utilities, namely electricity, water, streetlights, gas and telecom is underway by the concerned agencies.
The ORR-Airport Metro is being established as per the Metro Policy 2017 with equal equity financing model by the Government of India and the State Government. The approval of the Government of India is expected by December 2020. The Government of India has already posed the project for financing of project by way of long-term loans of about Rs. 5,800 Crores with moderate interest rate by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The formal approvals for the loans are expected by March 2021.
