Bengaluru: Jayant Sinha-K J George synergy for KIA Metro

Bengaluru: Seeking financial assistance for execution of the Metro project to link the Kempegowda International Airport and Bengaluru, City Development Minister K.J. George put forth nine alternative routes for the union government to approve a feasible one.

In an interaction with Mr Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr George said that the Union government has responded positively over creating a link to the airport through Metro. He apprised Mr Sinha of all the nine alternative routes suggested by RITES and the public during public consultation.

Sources in BMRCL said that the state government will finalise a feasible route and submit a detailed report along with the proposal on the other routes as well. The Civil Aviation ministry will play a crucial role in vetting the Metro corridor that will link the airport.

Not a single route has been finalised so far. BMRCL earlier put nine routes linking the city and the airport into the public domain to seek suggestions from citizens on the routes. It is said that Nagavara-Kannur-Bagalur-KIA route would be the most feasible, sources said.

This corridor stretches 27.8 km and is an extension of the Gottigere-Nagawara line via MG Road. As per the RITES report, it will take four years to build the line and cost a little over Rs 5,100 crore. The BMRCL is mulling over financial models to raise funds by charging a premium FSI for buildings that come 500 metres on either side of the Metro corridor. But the rules for levying higher FSI is still being worked out by the state government, said sources.

Meanwhile, setting up a commuter train facility across the city on a cost-sharing basis was also discussed with Mr Sinha. The state government evinced interest to fund Rs 360 crore as the initial investment to link Whitefield, Ramanagar and other peripheral areas from the city.