Swathi Shivanand

and Anil Kumar Sastry

BANGALORE: The proposed high-speed rail link between Bangalore and the international airport being built near Devanahalli seems to be on track with the soil along the proposed route being found favourable for the construction.

Testing the soil to ascertain its load-bearing capacity for the elevated railway line began on April 9 and ended near Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. The testing done by Civil Aid Consultancy, an agency appointed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRCL). The State Government appointed DMRCL to conduct a feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report on the rail link.

Tests at many places

Soil was tested at several places along the proposed link, including the airport, Yelahanka, Hebbal, Veterinary Hospital, Mekhri Circle, Windsor Manor, Sankey Road and Chinnaswamy Stadium, suggesting that this could be the probable route the railway line would take.

"We are investigating the soil every two kilometres so as to design the appropriate foundation for the rail link," site engineer Vasudev Rao told The Hindu . "The content of the soil has satisfied us and we will submit a detailed project report as soon as possible. Granite is the most important component of the soil required for such constructions and we have found it in plenty," he said.

V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary to Government, Infrastructure Department, said the department was awaiting the feasibility study and the project report. DMRCL has been asked to suggest a suitable route for the rail link, fares, feedback from frequent air travellers on the facilities they expect from the rail link and to ensure that the journey time will be within 30 minutes.

Land acquisition

The official said the consultant had been asked to suggest, in the project report, minimal land acquisition to avoid any delay in commissioning the project because of litigation and resistance from the public.

The consultant had to indicate the appropriate technology to be adopted for the construction of the line and operation of services, besides the cost involved.

The Government, Mr. Baligar said, intended to offer check-in facility to passengers in Bangalore itself in order to ensure hassle-free boarding at the airport. "We want to integrate the proposed rail link with the Metro Rail," Mr. Baligar said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail