Date:04/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030401321700.htm

Back Cabinet approves Bangalore metro rail project

Our Bureau

While the State will provide Rs 1,807 crore, the Centre would contribute Rs 1,447 crore and the FIs the remaining Rs 2,953 crore.

Bangalore , March 3

THE Rs 6,200-crore Bangalore Metro Rail project got the clearance of the State Cabinet on Thursday. It now awaits clearances of the Public Investment Board and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, according to the Information Minister, Mr B. Shivaram.

Work on the project will begin in June and the first train from Bangalore will run in three-and-a-half years, by October 2008, the Managing Director of Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd (BMRTL), Mr K.N. Shrivastava, said.

BMRTL has been asked to look into planning, designing, land acquisition, any shifting of utilities in the way, and shortlist contractors and vendors for the project.

The Defence authorities have promised to provide 50 acres of land for the 33-km rail line.

A committee headed by the Chief Secretary has been directed to make quarterly appraisals of the progress on the metro rail project.

The project has been conceived as a joint venture of the State Government and the Centre along with debt raised from nearly 20 FIs led by UTI Bank.

While the State will provide Rs 1,807 crore, the Centre would contribute Rs 1,447 crore and the FIs the remaining Rs 2,953 crore.

Land for the metro would include 102 acres from the Defence authorities, 55 acres from the State Government and 40 acres from private owners.

A 7-km stretch would be built underground around Vidhana Soudha and the rest would be elevated.