The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : EoI for rail link project to be called by month-end

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Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
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EoI for rail link project to be called by month-end

Staff Reporter

Work will take off in eight months, says Sreedharan

The 33-km distance to airport will be covered in 25 minutes
It will be a premier type of service for commuters

Bangalore: The high-speed rail link between Bangalore city and the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) is on track and bids for the Expression of Interest (EoI) for the project will be called by the month-end, E. Sreedharan, managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRCL), the agency implementing the project, has said.

Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Sreedharan said the process of setting up a Bangalore Airport Rail Link Corporation was under way. “DMRCL is setting up an office in Bangalore for executing the project. We will be able to award the contract soon and work is likely to take off in the next eight months,” he said.

Pointing out that the Karnataka Government had accepted the detailed project report for the rail link, he said the project was being implemented under public-private partnership (PPP) model on a BOT basis.

The rail link has been proposed from Mahatma Gandhi Road near BRV Grounds to the international airport at Devanahalli. The 33-km distance from the city centre to the airport will be covered in 25 minutes, he said. Asserting that the high-speed rail link will be a premier type of service for commuters, Mr. Sreedharan said the PPP model would be ideal for such a project as commuters would not mind paying a train fare of Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 as against the taxi fare of Rs. 800 to Rs. 900. “Though we had initially suggested a ticket of Rs. 150, we think the rate can be more than Rs. 200 in the current scenario,” he added.

‘It’s unfortunate’

Mr. Sreedharan termed the transfer of V. Madhu from the BMRCL as “unfortunate.” “The Government may have its own compulsions. But it is not a happy trend. It is really unfortunate that every time there is a change in government, top officials are transferred,” Mr. Sreedharan said.

Delay

Acknowledging that work on project was being delayed, Mr. Sreedharan said: “It is important that the Government extend political and administrative support for projects such as the Metro Rail.”

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