BENGALURU: It’s been nearly three years since the detailed project report (DPR) of Namma Metro ’s Silk Board-KR Puram corridor on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) was prepared, but it still remains a non-starter.The entire 17-km elevated stretch with 13 stations along ORR was to be operational by 2021. BMRCL, which floated a tender last year, cancelled the bids after the cash-strapped Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) emerged the lowest bidder in all packages.BMRCL is yet to float the revised tender, which may further delay Metro connectivity to ORR. The line is expected to connect KR Puram to the airport. Though BMRCL has now set a 2023 deadline for both ORR and airport lines, it is unlikely to be met going by the slow pace of work.The project cost has increased from Rs 4,202 crore in 2016 to Rs 5,994 crore. This is mainly because BMRCL planned to acquire 36,784sqm compared to its original plan of 15,179sqm, mainly for multi-mode integration.BMRCL managing director Ajay Seth said: “We may invite tenders in October. Approvals of the funding agency and that of the Centre are being pursued.”“We’ll soon float a revised tender in accordance with the Centre’s 2017 Metro policy. We’re completing land acquisition along the corridor to avoid further delay,” an official said. The earlier tender was cancelled mainly due to the IL&FS crisis and delay in raising funds, he added.According to the DPR prepared by BMRCL’s in-house team in October 2016, innovative financing techniques were to be deployed to mobilise funds to partly fund the project.The 13 stations are: KR Puram, Mahadevapura, DRDO sports complex, Doddanekundi, Isro, Marathahalli, Kodibisanahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, Bellandur, Iblur, Agara Lake, HSR Layout and Silk Board. However, only three firms: Embassy Group (Kadubeesanahalli), Intel Technology (Bellandur) and Prestige Group (Kodibisanahalli) pledged Rs 100 crore each to build Metro stations so far using innovative financing.The earlier proposal to have Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) services on ORR was shelved for Metro. With immense growth in intra-city traffic, ORR is under pressure with high congestion, resulting in low speed and increased travel time.Vishwanath Seetharam, founder secretary of Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), said the delay in Metro connectivity to ORR has not only escalated the construction cost but also caused severe inconvenience to commuters, particularly techies. “Ideally, BMRCL should have started Metro work on ORR first. Things will be worse by the time it is operational,” he said.Aravind Murali, a techie, a regular ORR commuter, said: “It’s chaotic during peak hours as vehicles don’t move. It’s worse when it rains but there have been no efforts to rein in errant private bus operators or fastrack the Metro project. We are left to suffer; there has been no clear vision on ORR despite the rise in population.”