BBMP’s poor record in TDR may hit new plan for metro line

The 13.92-km underground stretch of Namma Metro’s proposed Red Line from Dairy Circle to Nagawara hit a snag when Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) decided to scrap the tender after even the lowest bid of ₹8,553 crore was higher than the ₹5,047 crore estimate.

To reduce the cost of the project, the BMRCL is now planning to cut the length of the underground stretch by at least 3 km and convert it into an elevated corridor. It is yet to identify the exact locations but is banking on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take up the road-widening project on either end of the proposed underground alignment. Only then can an elevated corridor be built.

The BBMP has a plan to widen Tannery Road up to Nagawara Outer Ring Road (ORR), but it has been more than a decade since the civic body had pitched this proposal.

Unlike the BMRCL, which gives direct monetary compensation for land acquired for metro projects, the civic body has adopted Transferable Development Rights (TDR), which awards twice the value of the land in certificates that can be sold to builders. To widen the 4.63-km stretch of Tannery Road, the BBMP has to acquire 666 properties.

“The tender has already been awarded for the project. However, in view of the model code of conduct, the project cannot be taken up now.” The official said the decision on issuing TDR instead monetary compensation was done at the government level . “Small shop owners may show some resistance to TDR but owners of bigger shops are likely to accept it. The owners of the properties are aware of the BBMP’s plan to issue TDR,” said a civic official.

The BBMP is spending ₹42 crore for the civil works. The existing width of Tannery Road ranges from 9 m to 15 m and the plan is to widen the road up to 24 m.

Incidentally, under the old proposal, the BMRCL had identified properties that it would have had to acquire to build four underground stations — Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Arabic College, and Nagawara. It had planned to give monetary compensation to property owners on this stretch. This is now in limbo.

‘Not aware of the plan’

The BBMP official said, “We are not aware of the BMRCL’s plan to build an elevated corridor after the roads get widened. We have not heard anything from them yet. The purpose of road widening will not be served if the BMRCL builds huge metro pillars in future.”

Another senior official of the BBMP said they had no plans to widen the stretch from Dairy Circle (where the alignment of the underground stretch starts) towards Brigade Road .

Mahendra Jain, the managing director of the BMRCL, said the European Investment Bank, which is funding the project, had been appraised of the situation.

“The bank accepted the decision. The prices quoted by the contractor for the project was too exorbitant.”

He added that he would write to the BBMP seeking information on the roads it was planning to widen. “The cost of building an underground stretch is around ₹450 crore per km as against ₹150 crore per km for an elevated corridor. The BMRCL could save ₹300 crore per km. Moreover, building elevated corridor would take less time than the tunnel network.

Mr. Jain said there were plans to float the tender for the underground stretch in two packages. Previously, the BMRCL had floated tender in four packages.