BENGALURU: KR Puram , and not Nagawara , could be the hub for Metro connectivity to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). This departure from the original alignment, it appears, is due to an expected delay in executing the Metro line from Gottigere to Nagawara.The new alignment to the airport could start at KR Puram, touch Hebbal via Nagawara, and then run along the Bengaluru-Hyderabad national highway before connecting to the airport. The earlier alignment was an extension of the Gottigere-Nagawara stretch (Reach 6 of Phase II). After Nagawara, it was supposed to pass via RK Hegde Nagar without connecting Hebbal junction.Of the nine route options prepared by government-owned consultancy firm RITES, the state had chosen the 29.60-km Nagawara-Airport line in February. BMRCL had even prepared a detailed project report. Recently, however, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara hinted at changing the alignment but did not share details. The reasons for the change, according to sources, are: one, the under-construction KR Puram station is expected to have higher footfall as it is designed as an interchange station connecting both the outer ring road Metro corridor up to Central Silk Board and the eastwest Metro corridor from Mysuru Road; second, the BMRCL believes the completion of the 22.43-km Gottigere-Nagawara line, a prerequisite to extending the Metro from Nagawara to the airport, could take longer than scheduled as the stretch has a 14-km underground corridor, for which BMRCL is struggling to strike a deal with construction firms.It is also learnt that the BMRCL has drawn up a new alignment for a future Phase III, which includes extending the network on the outer ring road from Hebbal to Yeshwanthpur.Urbanist RK Misra, as did many top officials in the Metro, felt extending Metro to airport from KR Puram was better than Nagawara. “As the new alignment to the airport passes via the outer ring road, it will cater to both the officer-goers and air-passengers. There will be minimal land acquisition as the ring roads have wide median to build Metro pillars,” he said. “The earlier alignment made no sense,” he said.It is learnt that the BMRCL is disappointed with the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) for not extending support to the Metro project. The project, according to the initial plan, was estimated to cost ?5,500 crore, and the BMRCL expected between ?500 crore and ?1,000 crore from the BIAL. With no support, the BMRCL officials say there is no choice but to raise loans from private lenders besides seeking financial aid from the Centre and the state governments.The earlier alignment was extension the Gottigere-Nagawara stretch. After Nagawara, it was supposed to pass via RK Hegde Nagar without touching Hebbal junctionMany top officials in the Metro feel extending Metro to airport from KR Puram was better than from Nagawara