Fly to Kempegowda International Airport in 30 minutes, Namma Metro to make it happen
Bengaluru: It's official! The ride to Kempegowda International Airport will be smooth and hassle-free with the state cabinet on Monday approving connectivity through Namma Metro by 2021 under a Rs 5,950 crore project. Air passengers will be able to make it to the airport in less than 30 minutes on completion of the 29.62 km stretch from Nagawara near Hebbal. It will be linked to Bengaluru with funds flowing from Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL)'s passenger service fee (Rs 1,000 crore), the state government's contribution of Rs 1,350 crore, about Rs 500 crores of the Union government, and about Rs 3,000 crores to be raised as loan, law and parliamentary minister T B Jayachandra told the media here.
The minister said the state government would fund the project in a phased manner over the next three years.
He said: "Metro connectivity to the airport will be taken up by BMRCL under the ongoing phases, and named as Phase 2-B as this will only be an extension of Gottigere and Nagawara stretch. The cabinet has set a 40 month deadline for completion of the project." While coaches which constitute part of Phase-2 will touch a maximum speed of 34 kmph, those of Phase 2-B will traverse the distance at higher speed for the benefit of air passengers along with adequate room for their luggage thanks to a new signal system which facilitates non-stop journey without stops en route. “Phase 2 between Gottigere-Nagawara will have communication based train control (CBTC) system. As the new train route requires non-stop operation the existing CBTC will be supplanted with Grade of Automation (GOA) technology,” disclosed a senior official of BMRCL.
The official said “We have to build one 66/33 KVA receiving unit and two 25 MVA unit at the depot that will come up on the premises of KIA. Electricity will be supplied through 66 kv underground cable. All the auxiliary and traction sub-station will have no human intervention and synced with OCC of Phase-2 ,” the official added.
According to the decision of the cabinet, civil engineering work will be completed in 30 months duration, and laying of tracks, signalling system, traction and other technical works must be completed in a year’s time.
