Bengaluru Metro-suburban double decker saved us Rs 169 crore: K-Ride

Bengaluru: The double-decker corridor plan at Benniganahalli to facilitate Metro and suburban rail has saved around Rs 169 crore for the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride), the implementing agency of Bengaluru Suburban Transport Project (BSTP).According to a report published by K-Ride, the innovative rail engineering solution resulted in savings of Rs 150-169 crore in project expenditure. It was in 2021 that K-Ride and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) entered into an agreement.As per the plan, the suburban line’s corridor 4 (Kanaka Line) viaduct running between Heelalige and Rajanakunte is positioned directly below Namma Metro’s Blue Line (Phase 2A) viaduct near Benniganahalli flyover.

The arrangement creates a unique multi-level transport corridor accommodating two mass rapid transit systems within a common right of way.In addition to saving money, the agency said a significant amount of residential land was retained during the process. “The engineering solution resulted in avoiding acquisition of nearly 1.6 acres of premium land, thereby preventing displacement of around 600 residents,” the report stated.

Both Metro and suburban trains will run parallel to each other for approximately half a kilometre. It will also witness the integration of two distinct electrical traction systems (AC and DC), vetted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).Suburban rail to run between Yeshwantpur Metro & railway stationsWith Yeshwantpur set to transform into a multi-transit hub, K-Ride will align the suburban rail line right in between Metro and railway stations.

The station is part of BSTP’s corridor 1, which runs between KSR Bengaluru and Devanahalli along with a branch line to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).K-Ride will soon complete construction of the elevated structure between the stations as Yeshwantpur railway station is currently being redeveloped by Indian Railways. As the structure is elevated and is passing through the railway station’s circulating area, K-Ride estimates that construction of an elevated viaduct will become challenging once railways completes redevelopment of the station.“As the proposed BSTP alignment passes above the redeveloped infrastructure, approximately 500 metres in this section has been considered to construct a permanent viaduct structure within railway land and it will connect the corridor-1 alignment from KSR to Devanahalli,” K-Ride stated.CEM India has been awarded the contract to construct the elevated structure between the stations.