Back on Track: Metro's 72-km Phase 2 project.

BENGALURU: The much-delayed 72 km Phase 2 project of the Metro is finally on track. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials have said that, they have acquired land for the depots at Kothanur (31.5 acres) on Gottigere-Nagawara line and Hebbagodi (39.3 acres) on RV Road-Bommasandra line.

However, the land acquisition for the proposed depot at Whitefield (44.8 acres) on the Byappanahalli-Whitefield line will be taking two months as the clearance from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change is the only thing BMRCL is waiting for.

A senior BMRCL official has said that, "We've completed land acquisition procedures for Kothanur and Hebbagodi depots. For Anjanapura, the final notification has been sent to the government. In Challaghatta, we have acquired 21 acres and the final notification will be issued for the remaining 18 acres. We have to provide compensatory land for afforestation to the forest department to acquire their land. So, we have provided 29 acres near Dandeli Kali Tiger Reserve and 16 acres in Thippagondanahalli to the forest department for compensatory afforestation," said the official.

However, according to sources the delay in Phase 2 Metro project has increased the cost of land acquisition from Rs 2,000 crore in 2012 to about Rs 6,300 crore 2019.

Meanwhile, for the construction of Metro rail depot structures, site development works, internal roads and drainage works, as well as detailed design consultancy services for electrical installation and maintenance work for depots at Whitefield and Hebbagodi, BMRCL has already floated tenders.