Bangalore, June 14: Pushed into action by criticism from the Union civil aviation ministry, the state moved one step forward towards constructing a rail link from the city to the Bangalore International Airport site at Devanahalli.
To cater to international standards and also to avoid traffic problems, the state government has proposed to run a high-speed elevated train from MG Road to the under-construction airport in two years. The airport itself will be operational next year, from April.
The proposed train is to start from BRV grounds on MG Road and reach the destination in 23 minutes. The road map to this Rs 4,000 crore project has been prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited's (DMRCL) E Sreedaran and was presented to infrastructure minister B Sriramulu here on Wednesday. Sriramulu told reporters that DMRCL has conducted a feasibility study, soil study and survey before presenting it to the government.
However, the government is awaiting for detailed project report,which would be given in a month's time.
A portion of the BRV grounds, presently with the police department, has already been handed over to Bangalore Metro Rail. "A committee headed by chief secretary P B Mahishi will meet home department officials to get some land in the proposed place," Sriramulu said, adding that the high speed elevated train would be different from Metro. Principal secretary to infrastructure V P Baligar said the cost ratio is still being worked out.
"We have approached BIAL to share equity," he said. Baligar said the government has urged the railway ministry to include Hubli to places connected by high speed corridor rail. The project, still in infancy, will connect Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai. "Hubli is a ideal place and is centre to Pune and Bangalore," he said.
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