BENGALURU: In a huge boost to air passengers, priority corridor of the Bengaluru suburban rail project to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is likely to be operational by August 2022, according to Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises’ (K-RIDE) current plan.
On Sunday, the SPV which is executing the suburban rail project unveiled the 148km suburban rail project with four corridors: KSR Bengaluru City -Devanahalli, Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara, Kengeri-Cantonment-Whitefield and Heelalige-Rajanukunte.
While finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the project at a cost of Rs 18,600 crore in the budget on Saturday, it is yet to receive a nod from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
In 2019 alone, KIA saw 33.65 million passengers. According to K-RIDE, the KSR Bengaluru City-Yelahanka- KIA- Devanahalli (41.4km) line is likely to be operational by August 15, 2022. K-RIDE said work will be taken up on priority and the line will have 14 stations. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,127 crore and will provide direct connectivity to the terminal.
In contrast, the Rs 10,584 crore Silk Board-KR Puram (ORR)-KIA Metro corridor project which is yet to be approved by the Centre, is scheduled to open only in 2024. BMRCL in December invited tenders for the ORR line, while tenders for KR Puram-KIA section are likely to be floated by this month end. Going by the pace of work, Metro’s deadline may further get delayed, however, officials maintains that majority of the land acquisitions have been completed and have also commenced soil testing along the corridor.
Moreover, suburban rail could provide cheaper and quicker connectivity to KIA than the Metro since airport passengers from the central business district and south Bengaluru opting for the Metro will have to change trains to get to KIA.
The suburban rail system is also likely to get Metro-like facilities. Sources said 53 air-conditioned suburban trains with automated double-leaf sliding doors will be deployed in the first phase. Automated fare collection (AFC) gates at stations will enable smart card-based cashless travel for suburban rail users.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said work on Bengaluru’s suburban rail project will be taken up on priority and will be completed within three years. While unveiling a detailed plan on the four-corridor 148km project on Sunday, K-RIDE revealed it would take six years to complete the project.
Meanwhile, a halt railway station — between Doddajala and Devanahalli railway stations — will be ready by February-end, bringing relief to airport-bound passengers. The proposed halt station will be close to the airport boundary and 2-3km away from the terminal. Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is building the halt station and also operates shuttle services between the station and terminal. An online petition launched by Rajkumar Dugar titled 'Bengaluru needs trains to airport - and fast' has got more than 12,650 signatures so far.
On Sunday, the SPV which is executing the suburban rail project unveiled the 148km suburban rail project with four corridors: KSR Bengaluru City -Devanahalli, Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara, Kengeri-Cantonment-Whitefield and Heelalige-Rajanukunte.
While finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the project at a cost of Rs 18,600 crore in the budget on Saturday, it is yet to receive a nod from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
In 2019 alone, KIA saw 33.65 million passengers. According to K-RIDE, the KSR Bengaluru City-Yelahanka- KIA- Devanahalli (41.4km) line is likely to be operational by August 15, 2022. K-RIDE said work will be taken up on priority and the line will have 14 stations. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,127 crore and will provide direct connectivity to the terminal.
In contrast, the Rs 10,584 crore Silk Board-KR Puram (ORR)-KIA Metro corridor project which is yet to be approved by the Centre, is scheduled to open only in 2024. BMRCL in December invited tenders for the ORR line, while tenders for KR Puram-KIA section are likely to be floated by this month end. Going by the pace of work, Metro’s deadline may further get delayed, however, officials maintains that majority of the land acquisitions have been completed and have also commenced soil testing along the corridor.
Moreover, suburban rail could provide cheaper and quicker connectivity to KIA than the Metro since airport passengers from the central business district and south Bengaluru opting for the Metro will have to change trains to get to KIA.
The suburban rail system is also likely to get Metro-like facilities. Sources said 53 air-conditioned suburban trains with automated double-leaf sliding doors will be deployed in the first phase. Automated fare collection (AFC) gates at stations will enable smart card-based cashless travel for suburban rail users.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said work on Bengaluru’s suburban rail project will be taken up on priority and will be completed within three years. While unveiling a detailed plan on the four-corridor 148km project on Sunday, K-RIDE revealed it would take six years to complete the project.
Meanwhile, a halt railway station — between Doddajala and Devanahalli railway stations — will be ready by February-end, bringing relief to airport-bound passengers. The proposed halt station will be close to the airport boundary and 2-3km away from the terminal. Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is building the halt station and also operates shuttle services between the station and terminal. An online petition launched by Rajkumar Dugar titled 'Bengaluru needs trains to airport - and fast' has got more than 12,650 signatures so far.
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