So, I guess you people are basically bored that I only post about transport in Bangalore, which is definitely not improving, but, rather, going down the hill each and every single day. But, I think this is the best medium to reach you guys, meet with people who think similar to me. So, this time, I'm talking about Metro connectivity to Airport.
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| Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, one of the busiest in India |
Bangalore, a growing city of India, hosts one of the busiest International Airports in the country. Reaching other cities of the world from Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore is way too easier than reaching the Airport itself from the city, thanks to huge traffic without a proper solution. So, what can solve the crisis? A Suburban Railway? Maybe, yes, because, there's already a railway line between the city and Devanahalli, where the Airport is situated. But, talking of the practicalities, it's not going to be an easy way. Definitely, it'll be way too cheap and people might use it, but, practically, it's less feasible. If a suburban route is introduced between the city and the Airport, with a station very close to Airport, that has to ply very regularly to cater people and this might affect the Indian Railways timetable as the section falls under very busy Bangalore-Hyderabad line. Also, suburban railway might have to face a lot of problems due to many things known best to Indian Railways. So, this will make people not rely on this system much. So, roads? Elevated Corridor or Steel Bridge? That's a big no. Because, a recent research conducted has proven that the Steel Bridge which was planned by GoK can only reduce the travel time by ten minutes! Are we mad to spend thousands of crores to save just ten minutes? No. We're wise enough! So, road isn't going to help us. So, what else could help? Let's look at the needs:
- The system has to reliable
- There should be regular catering service, with less headway
- Punctuality
- Connectivity with the city
- Public transport
- Cheap
- Time-saving
So, as of now, there's only one solution which can cover all the needs. Metro. In Bangalore, Namma Metro has shown a lot of potential in past few years and it has been a very promising player in the field on transport. Lakhs of people depend on those magical two lines to travel everyday and with the construction of Phase 2, Namma Metro is ready to spread it's wings wider than ever before. Phase 3 has also got the green signal. So, can Metro solve the Airport-reaching crisis? I say yes!
The Metro connection to Airport was proposed long back. There was a proposal to build Bangalore High-Speed Rail Link, with a separate governing body, from Mahatma Gandhi Road to Airport with a budget of ₹ 5767 crores. This high-speed line was planned to be similar to the one in New Delhi, between New Delhi Railway Station to Dwarka Sector 21. But, later, the plan was dropped and it was decided to plan a regular Metro governed by BMRCL itself.
In September 2016, Rail India Technical and Economic Services(RITES) suggested nine different routes to Airport of which, five were the extensions of Phase 2 Nagawara-Gottigere line with different alignments. One option was Metro from Yeshwanthpur, while the other was to connect Mekhri Circle with Airport via Metro. A line from Krishnarajapuram was also suggested. This underwent public consultations, but, it was later decided to be decided by BMRCL itself, since the public are unaware of the hurdles of constructing an infrastructure like Metro, like land acquisition etc. Also, it was thought that the response from public will be influenced by their reachability and proximity to and of the Metro stations. There was also opposition against Metro route from Mekhri Circle which is not at all connected to Namma Metro by any means. There seems to be no plan whatsoever of connecting this part with Namma Metro as it involves lots of hurdles.
A 25.9 km extension of Gottigere-Nagawara line of Phase 2 emerged as the most popular choice. The Centre requested BMRC to start working on this extension before Phase 3, which then, was still on drawing boards. But, Bangalore International Airport Ltd.(BIAL), forbade BMRC from tunnelling from the southern side due to security reasons. This restriction eliminated three of the nine proposed routes. Gottigere-Nagawara line extension was also finalised in May 2017.
But, things turned in January 2019, when the GoK revamped the whole route, connecting Airport from Krishnarajapuram. The new, finalised route is a part of Phase 2B and is expected to be opened to public by 2023. The new line will start from Krishnarajapuram, which will also host Purple Line and ORR Line from Silk Board, traversing beside the ORR through Jn. of Nagawara, Hebbal, Jakkur before reaching Airport. The line will measure at 39.8 km, 8 km longer than the previous finalised alternative. The budget stood at ₹ 10584 crores, almost double the first plans.
So, how does the new line make sense? Let's see:
- It'll be cheap
- It'll also connect a segment of ORR, which experiences heavy traffic jams
- Connecting Airport with ORR is a very feasible solution since many people would have access to ORR Metro by 2024
- Direct connection to Airport from commercial hubs like Krishnarajapuram, which also hosts one of the busiest Indian Railways stations in Bangalore
- Connection with IT hubs like Whitefield
- Since Krishnarajapuram Station connects with Silk Board via elevated line under Phase 2A, this will make it a better alternative
- People starting their journey from almost all the stations may need to change line utmost thrice, which is very less compared to old alternatives
- Land acquisition shouldn't be a big problem
- Connection with major Indian Railways Stations of the city with Airport will cater more people
- Eco-friendly
- Mass rapid transport and has no problems of traffic
- On completion, Metro will probably the cheapest, yet, the best way to reach KIA from any part of the city, considering the plan of Phase 3 being approved
- No high pressure gas lines passing under the Metro line(In the previously approved line, Metro was supposed to pass over high pressure gas lines near Ramakrishna Hegde Nagar of Gas India Authority Ltd.(GAIL))
Now, the bad news; Due to technical issues like tunnelling, Gottigere-Nagawara line will be delayed and will be completed by 2024, the best case.
So, Metro to Airport is finally approved and according to top management of BMRCL, it should be completed within four years from now, i. e., by 2023! Let's see what happens, but, I myself have no trust on the deadlines these people give. Just think how many deadlines did BMRCL miss to complete Phase 1? Nine deadlines were missed! But, let's hope that this will not happen with the Airport line, because, we badly need it!
Do use Comments section to share your valuable views.
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