Metro Rail to throw Bangalore into haywire

Bangalore, Apr 4: The physical map of M G Road is all set to change. The famous promenade, the walking strip and fully grown trees will make way for the biggest infrastructure project in Bangalore, the Metro Rail.

A few weeks from now, the road will be free of parking and the auto-lane. By Sept-Oct, the stretch is likely to be a oneway, perhaps for the first time.

Beginning April 15, activity will hum on M G Road: the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will take over the road to start work.

On Tuesday, government officials and BMRCL MD V Madhu inspected the stretch. Madhu told TOI: "We'll take over one-fourth of M G Road. Roads in the Central Business District - M G Road, Cubbon Road, Dickenson Road and Central Street - will become a circular corridor for traffic movement."

BMRCL officials held meetings with the traffic police on diversions, one-ways and barricading. A traffic master plan is being prepared, Madhu said.

The master plan for Phase I is being given finishing touches. BMRCL and traffic police will cordon off the project site, which will extend up to the dedicated lane for autos.

This will leave the road with little space for parking and traffic movement and hence parking will be removed. So as not to affect traffic movement in peak hours, the work will be done at night from 10.30.

The initial work will comprise digging for the foundation - pile foundation technology will be used where the pile is drilled deep into the ground until the hard rock is touched and then water is pumped out.

Thereon, a pile cap with reinforced iron cage will be put, on which the piers will be constructed. On the piers, girders will be placed.

As a first step, the bund on the road would be removed. Then drilling would be taken up for putting up piers at an interval of 28 metres.

The first phase will cover the 7-km stretch between M G Road and Byappanahalli which is primarily an elevated stretch except in one place where it is going to go underground.

The project cost is Rs 6,400 crore including land acquisition, and scheduled for completion in the next six years.

OneIndia News