Karnataka Budget 2021: Major focus on strengthening public transport in Bengaluru city

Bengaluru, India (Urban Transport News): With the aims to reducing traffic congestion in Bengaluru, fast-tracking the implementation of the suburban rail project, Bangalore metro phase 2, doubling between Yeshwantpur-Channasandra and Baiyappanahalli-Hosur divisions, construction of foot overbridges and implementation of “One Nation, One Card’ and automatic ticketing system etc. were given top priority in the State Budget for the financial year 2021-22.

Karnayaka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in his budget speech on 8th March 2021 said the government would strive to complete the 65-km long, 100-m wide Peripheral Ring Road project. Though the land acquisition process started in 2006, it had come to a standstill due to financial crunch and legal issues. The government would soon float a tender incorporating the “Swiss challenge method” under public-private partnership (PPP) where the land acquisition cost will be met by the private partners.

"While the second runway at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has been completed at a cost of ₹2,708 crore, the work on the second terminal taken up at an estimated ₹4,751 crore is likely to be completed this year. This will increase the maximum annual passenger capacity of KIA to 60 million," Yediyurappa said.

The government has allocated ₹850 crores for the ₹15,767 crores Bengaluru suburban rail project which is taken up with the objective of reducing traffic congestion in the city. The land acquisition for the suburban rail project has been taken up and is likely to be completed in six years.

Rail doubling work between Yeshwanthpur-Channasandra and Baiyappanahalli-Hosur divisions, estimated at ₹813 crores, is likely to be completed by the end of 2023. The project aimed at providing additional rail services has been taken up by Karnataka Railway Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. in collaboration with the Railway Ministry on a 50% cost-sharing basis.

"A 41-km long Bangalore Metro line will be made operational in stages between June 2021 and December 2022. Already, ₹30,000 crores have been utilised for Phase 1 and 2 of the Metro project. The government is expecting approval from the Centre for the implementation of a 58-km long Outer Ring Road-Airport metro network under Phase2A and 2B estimated at ₹14,788 crores. The government had released more than ₹1,600 crores for land acquisition, utility shifting, and design," Yeddyurappa said in his speech.

"Three FOBs connecting metro and railway stations at Yeshwanthpur, K.R. Puram and Jnanabharathi, two FOBs at Dasarahalli and Chikkabidarakallu on National Highway-4, and 7 FOBs across Hosur Road will be constructed to provide connectivity to the upcoming metro stations," said Yeddyurappa.

Additionally, the total metro rail network including 51 stations will be ready by August 2021 to accept ‘One Nation, One Card’ for the convenience of the public. This card may be used in both Bangalore Metro and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Buses. An automatic fare collection (AFC) system project is also being taken up in a bid to modernize the ticketing facility in BMTC.