Work on clearing land for the Metro link between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield is gathering pace with contractors bringing down some of the over 270 buildings marked for demolition.
A Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) official said contractors entrusted with demolition job have started work from the KR Puram side but could not provide the percentage of demolition work completed.
The official also said there were a few minor hiccups. “Some buildings have been cleared for demolition because their owners have accepted compensation.
There are a few others who are disputing the compensation. Though demolition has not been taken up at such places, it will be taken up at the earliest to make sure there is no delay,” the official added.
The contract was awarded in May 2016. The BMRCL’s March 2017 newsletter states that 56 properties have been demolished, indicating that the work was slow till recently. Metro officials, however, said the deadline will be met while noting that demolition work also involves taking debris to the dump yard and clearing the site for work.
The demolished buildings include a few from the Lowry institute in KR Puram, which is set to lose another building, a hostel, to make way for the metro station. “The tender for construction of elevated way will be finalised within the next few months,” the official said. The fully elevated 15.50-km Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield link has 14 stations.