Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Ltd. (K-RIDE) has initiated preliminary groundworks for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project.
The project’s implementing agency, KRIDE, issued a work order to Larsen & Toubro on 26 August for civil works on Corridor-2 (Mallige line).
Surveying, geotechnical investigation, utility identification, and test piling comprise preliminary civil work.
The Hindu reports that the contractor started preliminary works by barricading the work sites near Hebbal Railway Station.
In November last year, K-RIDE (a joint venture between the state government and the ministry of railways) floated the first civil work tender to construct an 8 km elevated viaduct as a part of the 25 km Mallige line (Corridor 2).
Full-fledged work is likely to start within a week. In addition to Hebbal, the construction work will also start in other locations of the corridor, the report added.
K-RIDE is seeking 800 million euros in loans to finance the suburban rail project.
According to officials, the Hebbal-Banaswadi segment of this corridor is a priority. Six railroad level crossings (LCs 140 to 144A) will be replaced by rail under bridges (RUBs) in a year.
About 25.57 km long, Corridor-2 is estimated to be Rs 859.97 crore project. It is divided into two packages: Baiyyapanahalli-Lottegollahalli and Lottegollahalli-Chikkabanavar.
The 25.57 km long Mallige corridor will have stations at Byappanahalli, Kasturi Nagar, Sevanagar, Banaswadi, Kaveri Nagar, Nagawara, Kanakanagar, Hebbal, Lottegollahalli, Yeswantpur, Jalahalli, Shettihalli, Myadarahalli and Chikkabanavara.
The contractor will construct 9.72 km of the elevated line and 18.55 km at the grade line. The corridor will have 14 stations, and construction will begin later. The stations’ designs will be finalised soon.
K-RIDE has set a deadline of 24 months for the work.
On 20 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the suburban rail project in the city. The PM promised that the project would be completed in 40 months.
Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project rail will link Bengaluru to its satellite townships, suburbs, and surrounding rural areas by a rail-based rapid-transit system network.
The commuter rail network will comprise of four corridors, 57 stations, and cover 148.17km.
It is being built at the cost of Rs 15,767crore. K-RIDE will raise debt funding to the extent of Rs 7,438 crore through borrowings to implement the project. The union and state government will fund the remaining portion of the project.