Bengaluru: Minister for Bengaluru Development K J George met Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials on Monday to take stock of land acquisition for the 21.25km Red Line (Gottigere-Nagavara) and also its extension to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
BMRCL is still in the process of conducting land surveys for the 28km Nagavara-KIA route approved by the government on May 17.
The extension is from Nagavara via Hegde Nagar, Jakkur, which will cross Ballari Road in Yelahanka and access KIA through its southern entry near Begur village. The BMRCL has taken up a topographical survey of the entire corridor, including a differential global positioning system (DGPS) study, in order to ensure accurate alignment with improved location accuracy.
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “It was an informal discussion with the minister to brief him about the land surveys we have been carrying out. He wanted to take stock of the progress the agency has made on the airport-link project.” The preparation of a detailed report of the KIA link from Nagavara is under way.
The Gottigere-Nagavara Metro corridor will have a 13.79-km underground stretch, which will be the longest subterranean Metro tunnel in the city. A total of 53.42 hectares and 251 properties have to be acquired on this line. Some parcels of land have already been acquired on the 7.5-km elevated stretch between Gottigere and Swagath Road Cross, said officials.
The minister received representations from 16 families whose properties are located at the spot where the Arabic College Metro station is coming up.
“Some parts of this alignment fall under my constituency and these families will lose their houses because of the station. I wanted to know about BMRCL’s rehabilitation package to these families. We cannot build alternative houses for them, but as a part of the project, property owners are given compensation which is double the market rate of the land, and Metro officials said they’ll be paid the due compensation,” the minister said.
