Centre to bear enhanced cost of Bangalore Metro

The Centre has agreed to bear the escalated cost of the first phase of the Bangalore Metro. The cost of the project has escalated to Rs 11,609 crore from the earlier Rs 10,000 crore after revised estimates and the Centre, a stakeholder in the project, would bear the additional cost, Union Minister for Urban Development Jaipal Reddy said.

Speaking after inaugurating the Traffic and Transit Management Centre (TTMC) built by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), here at the weekend, he said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 58,000 crore funds from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) during the last four and half years. The local, civic bodies and various state governments have put in an equal amount for providing and improving basic urban projects other than the Metro and transport infrastructure.

He said, at the time of Independence, less than 15 per cent of the people lived in urban areas. This figure has risen to 30 per cent in 2010 and is projected to cross 50 per cent by 2050. “We have funded 1,000 BMTC buses in Bangalore. Initially the Centre was not keen to fund projects like TTMC’s. But, due to the importance accorded to mass transportation, funding was granted under JnNURM,” Reddy said.

In his address, Transport Minister R Ashok said, seven to eight companies have evinced interest in constructing a mega bus terminus at Majestic (Kempegowda Bus Station) at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore.

“This is proposed under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model. It would be remodelled into a world class bus-station and will be a major landmark,” Ashok said.

He also added that BMTC’s Volvo buses plying on the airport and IT sector routes were profitable and very soon, KSRTC will have Mercedes Benz buses to ply on the Bangalore-Mysore route, he said.

Kengeri TTMC has been built at a cost of Rs 40 crore utilising funds from the JnNURM Scheme. The Centre has met 35 per cent of the cost while the state has chipped in with 15 per cent and BMTC 50 per cent.

Nine more TTMCs or new bus stations are being built at Shantinagar, Koramangala, Whitefield, Vijayanagar, Banashankari, Yeswanthpura, Domlur and Bannerghatta. These are slated for completion in the next three to four months. TTMC’s objective is to provide an integrated transport facility with adequate amenities and conveniences to cater to the requirements of all user groups and reduce congestion of main roads through efficient traffic movement, among others.