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Centre may contribute funds for metro rail

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Feb. 26. The Centre may contribute funds for the proposed Bangalore Metro Rail, an official from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is conducting a viability study for the project here, has said.

S.N.Venkata Rao, Advisor, Delhi Metro, said that about 40 per cent of the estimated cost of Rs.3,880 crores, might be borne by the Centre and State Government. "As of now, Delhi Metro is preparing a detailed project report for the State. The Centre may join (this) shortly,'' he said.

At a meet on the environmental impact of the metro rail project at the Bangalore University on Wednesday, Mr. Rao said the State had collected Rs.400 crores by levying cess on petrol for a mass rapid transport system. The balance would be raised as loan. The Delhi Metro and the State had hired ICICI to advice on finances, he said. The project report would be submitted to the State Government by the end of March, he added.

The project will involve a 25-year concessionaire contract to be given to a private company/consortium on build, operate, and transfer basis. This private partner will supply the trains too.

The proposed metro has two tracks. An 18-km 19-station stretch from Mysore Road to Byappanahalli, and a 16-km 16-station stretch from Yeshwantpur to R.V.Road. Most of the tracks will either be elevated or underground, with a few surface stretches. There will be twin tracks along each route, and initially, three coach trains ferrying a maximum of 840 passengers, at 35 km per hour, are to be used.

Environment assessment

The Bangalore University's Department of Environmental Sciences has completed most of the work on an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, according to R.K.Somashekar, Chairman of the department.

Dr. Somashekar said the findings of the assessment would be made public at the final hearing. The department is expected to submit the assessment to the Government next month.

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