Summary:
BENGALURU: With most of the land acquisition hurdles for the proposed depots cleared, the much-delayed Metro’s 72km Phase 2 project is finally on track.Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials said 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. For Anjanapura, the final notification has been sent to the government. 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.BMRCL officials said maintenance depots with stabling lines and inspection bays are crucial to Metro’s operations as they will have to be ready by the time these lines are operational. Similarly, land acquisition for depots at Anjanapura (8.9 acres) on Yelachenahalli-Anjanapura line and Challaghatta (38.9 acres) on Mysuru Road-Kengeri line will be completed in a month as final notification has been sent to the state government.However, land acquisition for the proposed depot at Whitefield (44.8 acres) on the Byappanahalli-Whitefield line will take about two months as BMRCL is waiting for clearance from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change.“We’ve completed land acquisition procedures for Kothanur and Hebbagodi depots. In Challaghatta, we have acquired 21 acres and the final notification will be issued for the remaining 18 acres,” said a senior BMRCL official.He said they have received the stage 1 clearance from the Centre for the Whitefield depot and the stage 2 clearance is expected in two months.“We have to provide compensatory land for afforestation to the forest department to acquire their land..