TimesView The realignment of the Metro corridor to the airport — after BMRCL invited public suggestions and a majority backed the Nagawara-KIA route — is baffling not only because it is contrarian. Aside from additional distance, more switchovers and a Rs 4,700-crore increase in cost, engineers who drew up the original blueprint apparently overlooked what BMRCL now cites as the main reason for the change: a petroleum pipeline near RK Hegde Nagar. The argument that the underground Gottigere-Nagawara stretch would delay connectivity to the airport also doesn’t hold water because that should take only an extra year. A transport lifeline like Metro could have done with better planning.

Properties to be acquired

MULTIPLE SWITCHOVERS

BENGALURU: The changed alignment of Namma Metro’s airport corridor — from Nagawara-KIA (29km) to KR Puram-KIA (38km) — is likely to result in increased travel time for two reasons: longer route and the need for commuters, especially from south Bengaluru, to change lines multiple times.Commuter-activists fear that this could result in people from several areas of the city continuing to use cabs to reach the airport.BMRCL officials say the estimated time from KR Puram to KIA on Metro would be around 45 minutes. The earlier Nagawara-KIA route had promised a travel time of just 25 minutes. The new alignment too touches Nagawara, but takes the Hebbal and Kogilu Cross route. It’s 9km longer than the earlier alignment via RK Hegde Nagar and Yelahanka.The earlier alignment had seven stations: Nagawara, RK Hegde Nagar, Jakkur, Yelahanka, Chikkajala, one on the KIAL Road and another at the terminal. In contrast, the new alignment has 17 stations: KR Puram, Channasandra, Horamavu, Kalyan Nagar (Babu Sahib Palya), HRBR Layout, HBR Layout, Nagawara, Veeranna Palya, Kempapura Cross, Hebbal, Kodigehalli, Jakkur, Kogilu Cross, Peripheral Ring Road (Bagalur), Trumpet Intersection and two stations at KIA.However, BMRCL officials say they are now aiming for a maximum speed of 90 to 95 kmph and average speed of 60 kmph for the airport-bound trains to cut down on travel time. In contrast, Metro’s Phase 1 is designed for 80kmph, but the average speed of the trains is 34kmph.Sanjeev Dyamannavar, a commuter rail activist, said: “If the Metro ride itself takes 45 minutes, it’d take more than 1 hour 15 minutes for passengers from areas like Rajajinagar, Chickpet and Koramangala, considering the time taken to reach the nearest Metro station, changing lines, waiting for trains, etc. This means they can take a cab or BMTC bus to reach airport faster.”“The new alignment will benefit mostly those going to the airport from areas along the Outer Ring Road. In fact, they have unilaterally decided the new route via Hebbal without even taking public inputs,” he added.The cost of Metro’s new alignment is also high. While KR Puram-KIA will cost an estimated Rs 10,584.1 crore, the earlier line planned from Gottigere to Nagawara and then to KIA was supposed to cost Rs 5,900 crore.The presence of the high-pressure Bengaluru-Mangaluru petroleum pipeline was cited as the reason for change in the previous alignment via RK Hegde Nagar. Another justification given for the new alignment is that the original airport line, connecting Gottigere to Nagawara and from there to KIA, would have been further delayed as that particular line will go underground.Work on elevated sections finishes faster than underground ones. The new line is mostly elevated, except the two underground stations at the airport.BMRCL officials said they are planning to acquire 279 properties (3.1 lakh sqm) for the KR Puram-KIA line, which includes 44 government properties (27,876 sqm) and 235 private ones (2.8 lakh sqm). The elevated airport line is likely to be along the median of the Outer Ring Road while on Ballari Road, it will be on the right side of the elevated road from Esteem Mall towards the airport. “The National Highways Authority of India has already identified a 5m-wide strip of land along the right side of the elevated corridor,” said an official. BMRCL is also planning to set up a depot near Trumpet Intersection.The new alignment will affect seamless travel for airport passengers from the central business district due to multiple switchovers. For instance, a passenger from either KSR City railway station or Majestic bus terminus will have to switch trains at MG Road to reach Nagawara and again change trains at Nagawara to reach the airport. Otherwise, he/ she will have to travel all the way to KR Puram and take the airport-bound Metro or board the one from Hebbal.In fact, BMRCL decided to change the alignment though a majority of public responses to the nine alternative routes to the airport had backed the earlier Nagawara route.Metro officials, however, say most airport lines in foreign cities have multiple switchovers and extending the line from KR Puram is more feasible for faster work completion and to ensure better connectivity to IT hubs.