<p>Work on the extension of Namma Metro's four reaches under Phase 2 has been progressing well but hurdles to acquiring land for depots in the extended lines have got the BMRCL worried. Officials fear the delay might affect the timely completion of Phase 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BMRCL has identified 45 acres of forest land for the Whitefield depot, 40 acres for the Challaghatta depot, about 20 acres for the Anjanapura depot and 30 acres for the Kothanur depot. While notifications for land acquisition in some of these areas was issued way back in 2015, there has been no progress on taking possession of land.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Channappa Goudar, special land acquisition officer, BMRCL, said they hadn't been able to acquire land for any of the depots. "We have not been able to take possession of land for any depot. The Hebbagodi depot land was notified in 2016 and we hoped it would be cleared quickly. But a person who owns 15 acres of land has moved the high court, holding up the possession. The gazette notification for Kothanur and Challaghatta depots was published recently and the acquisition process is under way," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the BMRCL had sought clearance from forest officials for acquiring 66.71 acres of forest land in the Kadugodi plantation area for building the depot, an elevated metro line and Kadugodi, Ujjval and Whitefield stations. But forest officials said they hadn't yet taken a decision on the matter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to Goudar, a joint survey will be held shortly to finalise land for the Anjanapura depot where a dispute over the acquisition of forest land has already forced the BMRCL to shift the depot's location twice. Anjanapura and Kothanur depots will be smaller with their capacity being limited to minor maintenance works.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A senior BMRCL official said though they had extended the deadline for Phase 2 from 2020 to March 2021, depot works, which would need about two years, might further drag the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Depots are essential for the stabling and maintenance of trains. Every line should have two full-fledged depots to ensure the timely maintenance of trains. All the five depots are an integral part of Phase 2. Even if just one of them doesn't function, it will have a bearing on the overall operations," he said.</p>
<p>Work on the extension of Namma Metro's four reaches under Phase 2 has been progressing well but hurdles to acquiring land for depots in the extended lines have got the BMRCL worried. Officials fear the delay might affect the timely completion of Phase 2.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BMRCL has identified 45 acres of forest land for the Whitefield depot, 40 acres for the Challaghatta depot, about 20 acres for the Anjanapura depot and 30 acres for the Kothanur depot. While notifications for land acquisition in some of these areas was issued way back in 2015, there has been no progress on taking possession of land.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Channappa Goudar, special land acquisition officer, BMRCL, said they hadn't been able to acquire land for any of the depots. "We have not been able to take possession of land for any depot. The Hebbagodi depot land was notified in 2016 and we hoped it would be cleared quickly. But a person who owns 15 acres of land has moved the high court, holding up the possession. The gazette notification for Kothanur and Challaghatta depots was published recently and the acquisition process is under way," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Last year, the BMRCL had sought clearance from forest officials for acquiring 66.71 acres of forest land in the Kadugodi plantation area for building the depot, an elevated metro line and Kadugodi, Ujjval and Whitefield stations. But forest officials said they hadn't yet taken a decision on the matter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to Goudar, a joint survey will be held shortly to finalise land for the Anjanapura depot where a dispute over the acquisition of forest land has already forced the BMRCL to shift the depot's location twice. Anjanapura and Kothanur depots will be smaller with their capacity being limited to minor maintenance works.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A senior BMRCL official said though they had extended the deadline for Phase 2 from 2020 to March 2021, depot works, which would need about two years, might further drag the project.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Depots are essential for the stabling and maintenance of trains. Every line should have two full-fledged depots to ensure the timely maintenance of trains. All the five depots are an integral part of Phase 2. Even if just one of them doesn't function, it will have a bearing on the overall operations," he said.</p>