Tenders for Metro's Phase 2 depots in three months

As work on Namma Metro's Phase 2 lines gathers pace, the BMRCL has expedited land acquisition for three key depots and hopes to float tenders for them in the next two to three months.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited got a shot in the arm last month after the high court lifted the stay on the acquisition of 27 acres in Hebbagodi. This land is the part of 39.26 acres required for a depot where maintenance and service of metro trains on the RV Road-Bommasandra Line (Reach 5) will be carried out.

BMRCL chief public relations officer, U A Vasanth Rao, said land for three depots in Hebbagodi, Kothnur and Challaghatta had been acquired. But it may take about five months to get the land for the Whitefield and Anjanapura depots, both of which involve forest land.

"We are finalising tender documents for civil work on the three depots. Financial details are being worked out. As of now, the outer limit of cost for the Anjanapura depot is estimated at Rs 150 crore. For the bigger depots, the cost may come up to Rs 250 crore. Additionally, work on the electrical and mechanical infrastructure will cost about Rs 50 to 55 crore," he said.

Senior officials said the final land acquisition notification for Kothnur (31.5 acres) and Challaghatta (38.92 acres) depots had been issued over the past two months.

"We have deposited the required compensation with the KIADB for the Hebbagodi land. The financial packages for Challaghatta and Kothnur land parcels are also finalised," he said.

For the Whitefield depot, the BMRCL had sought about 45 acres in the Kadugodi plantation, which is classified as a forest land.

"The BMRCL has offered to transfer 51 acres to the forest department for compensatory afforestation. We expect approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests in the next five months. We hope to complete the process for the Anjanapura depot land around the same time," the official said.