In order to improve connectivity between Airport and K R Puram, a key locality of Bengaluru, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has planned to link, Airport line with the Blue line metro station at K R Puram. The extension has been planned under phase 2 B of the metro project and the corporation has already invited geo-technical bids for the same.
Earlier the authority has planned to link Gottigere-Nagawara metro line with the Airport line, but due to non-feasibility, the plan was dropped. Officials said that they are now exploring other options like to connect the metro line via Nagawara, KR Puram, Yelahanka, Hebbal and Kempegowda International Airport, which is more feasible than the earlier one.
A senior official from BMRCL said, “The work on this stretch will take time as the complete line will be underground, so the major time taker will be the tunneling work. Therefore, the authority is currently planning how to start the work. The most suitable is to start the construction on K R Puram-Hebbal corridor first.”
The official further informed that once the operation of this corridor will start, daily commuters can easily travel from Baiyappanahalli to KR Puram, while the airport passengers can move further to the airport line.
“We have also invited bids for the geotechnical investigation on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to K R Puram corridor via Silk Board,” Official added.
However, officials said that the state government at present only wants to focus on Nagawara-Kogilu-Yelahanka-KIA stretch which is going to be a boon for the commuters providing them multiple options to reach Airport.