[sustran] Govt vows three corridors to crisscross city in 45-min drive

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/Bangalore/Cover-story/Govt-vows-three-corridors-to-crisscross-city-in-45-min-drive/articleshow/47605787.cms




Govt vows three corridors to crisscross city in 45-min drive
By Atul Chaturvedi, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Jun 10, 2015, 04.00 AM IST
[image: Govt vows three corridors to crisscross city in 45-min drive]
An artist’s impression of what the city could look like when and if the
project is completed
*The huge project is likely to be done at an estimated Rs 18,500 crore*

The state government's ambitious plan of easing traffic congestion by
constructing elevated corridors is all set to come with a huge bill: A
massive Rs 18,500 crore! And they plan to pass it on to the users.

The initial estimates for the three corridors that will crisscross the city
were readied recently and the projects are likely to be kick-started by the
state government before the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
polls. The corridors, which are likely to be completed in five years, will
be pay-and-travel (toll) roads for commuters.

Three elevated roads have been planned: the north-south corridor connecting
Central Silk Board with Hebbal; east-west corridor-1 connecting KR Puram
with Yeshwanthpur (Goraguntepalya); and east-west corridor-2 connecting
Jnanabharathi with Varthur Kodi.

These will have three more connecting corridors of a total length of 75 km,
all estimated to be built at a cost of Rs 18,500 crore — one of the
costliest projects to be executed by the BBMP under the
public-private-partnership (PPP) model. The Congress government led by
chief minister Siddaramaiah has decided to take on a few development
projects before the BBMP elections.

Acting on directions from the chief minister, BBMP administrator T M Vijay
Bhaskar held a review meeting of the civic body's engineering department in
which he directed preparing a detailed feasibility report (DFR) and
inviting tenders before June 25.

According to the preliminary report prepared by the engineers (a copy of
which is available with Bangalore Mirror), once the project is completed
and thrown open to the traffic, it will save travel time substantially
leading to people reaching anywhere in city within 45 minutes.

Moreover, other non-quantifiable benefits include a significant reduction
in various unwanted features -- accidents, air pollution and noise
pollution - while increasing the quality of life.

*WHY IT IS THE COSTLIEST*

The BBMP engineers have estimated a cost of Rs 18,500 crore for the project
while it requires around 100 acres of land for it.

The acquiring process would require Rs 8,000 crore while the remaining
10,000 crore would be used towards the execution of the project.

The BBMP won't be spending single rupees from its pocket. In fact, for the
preparation of DFR which will cost Rs 30 crore would be funded by the state
government. The successful contractor will execute work as per given
drawings, designs, finance for the projects, builds, maintains and collects
tolls, said Bhaskar.

He said, "All the elevated roads will have toll. It is already announced by
the chief minister itself. I have asked engineers to prepare DFR and also
to invite the tenders. All these roads will have six lanes and during the
preparation of the DFR should synchronize with the Metro officials."

*PROJECT PLUSES*

*Project to be implemented through PPP-Annuity. Neither state government
nor the BBMP will spend money from its pockets

*20 year concession period, Annuity is Rs 1,416 crore per year for 17 years

* Requirement is Rs 18,500 crore in the next five years

*Names of the corridors, length and estimated cost of the stretches*


*Corridor : Length (in Kms) :​ Estimated cost in crores *


North - South Corridor Connecting NH-7 to NH-7 From Central Silk Board to
Hebbal *: 10.6 : Rs 2,838 *


East - West Corridor -1 Connecting NH-4 to NH-4 From KR Puram to
Goraguntepalya*: 19.7 : Rs 5, 060*


East - West Corridor -2 Connecting SH-17 to SH-35 From Jnanabharathi (SH
17) to Varthur Kodi (SH 35)*: 27.7 : Rs 6, 960*


Connecting Corridor-1; Connecting North South Corridor & East West Corridor
02 From Agara to Kalasipalyam*: 2.3 : Rs 1,612*


Connecting Corridor-2; Connecting East West Corridor 01 & East West
Corridor 02 From Richmond Road to Ulsoor*: 5.7 : Rs 494*


Connecting Corridor-3; Connecting Corridor from Kalyana Nagar Junction at
Outer Ring Road to St Johns Church ​Road and Wheeler Road Junction *: 9.2 :
Rs 1, 443*


*Total : 75​.2​ : Rs 18,40​7*