Infrastructure
A Namma Metro train. (Photo credit: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/GettyImages)
10 firms have evinced interest to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for Namma Metro’s proposed 37 km Hebbal – Sarjapur metro line via Agara, Koramangala and Diary Circle.
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Ltd, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System, Korea Railroad Technical Corporation, Urban Mass Transit Company, Consulting Engineers Group, Tractebel Engineering Pvt ltd, and Aarvee Associates, BARSYL are among the firms that have submitted a bid for the DPR preparation.
On Apr 11, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) invited tenders to appoint a consultant to create a Detailed Project Report for the Sarjapur-Hebbal line.
The scope of the contract includes the preparation of a detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Rail Corridor of length 37 km connecting Sarjapur to Hebbal via Agra, Koramangala and Dairy Circle.
The contracting firm selected for DPR will provide a baseline of the line’s length, underground & elevated route composition, number of stations, their locations, depot, coach requirement, ridership projection, operational game plan, total cost etc. The DPR preparation is expected to be complete in 8 months.
In March this year, the BJP government in Karnataka unveiled plans to build a 37-km metro line between Sarjapur and Hebbal through Agara, Koramangala and Dairy Circle at a cost of ₹15,000 crore.
CM Basavaraj Bommai made the announcement while presenting his government’s maiden budget for the year 2022-23 in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Sarjapur- Hebbal line was previously envisaged as a part of Metro Phase-3. But, in 2021, the DPR for the Phase-3 line was finalised and only two corridors were announced.
The draft DPR for Phase-3 reportedly submitted to the BMRCL by RITES Ltd comprises of two elevated corridors covering a total length of 44.65 km. The project is estimated to cost around ₹13,500 crore with 31 Metro stations.
Corridor One will run for 32.15 km along the west of Outer Ring Road from J P Nagar IVth phase to Kempapura with 22 stations. Corridor Two runs from Hosahalli to Kadabgere on Magadi Road will run for 12.5 km with 9 stations. It remains to be seen if Sarjapura to Hebbal will be executed as part of Phase 3 or will be taken up separately.
DPR To Project Commencement estimated to be 18 months
The DPR will likely to take at least a year for completion and another 6 months to get approval from the government as it needs the authorization of the BMRCL board, the finance department and the state cabinet.