Two link roads to Kempegowda International Airport

 BBMP working beyond its jurisdiction to connect to the airport

Two link roads to Kempegowda International Airport

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: BBMP is set to work beyond its jurisdiction to build two link roads for smooth traffic to Kempegowda International Airport.

As per the government order, BBMP is planning to build two roads in areas not under its jurisdiction. These roads are being built by the Road Infrastructure Department of Yelahanka Zone. For this, tenders have been invited to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) including the necessary funds, road expansion, land acquisition cost, building demolition, and re-tarmacking of the existing road.

It is proposed to build these two link roads apart from the alternative road currently being constructed via Bagalur to the airport. A new link road will be constructed from Bagalur main road through Country Club. Another link road will be constructed from Sadahalli Gate to the airport from near the power transmission unit near Begur. These two link roads will be connected to each other.

‘Both link roads have to be constructed almost from scratch. There are some ‘revenue layouts’ in this part. There is a few meters of road from there. It needs to be widened. A new road has to be constructed in the remaining part, and land acquisition has to be done,’ the engineers informed.

‘Land acquisition is planned under the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scheme. It will be clear how much land will be acquired after the DPR is ready. This scheme has been started by the corporation on the orders of the government,’ he said.

Almost all of these link roads, which will be built in a length of about 13 km, need to be acquired. There is a possibility that the grant allocated by the government will be spent on land acquisition. Also, it is not yet known how those who will lose their land will agree to TDR. Two flyovers and one railway overbridge (ROB) will also have to be constructed on the two link roads. Hence, it is said that there may be a shortage of funds.

Link roads;

Satanur – Meesaganahalli to Kempegowda International Airport 

Begur to Sadahalli Gate to Kempegowda International Airport

• 13.5 km; Total length of the two link roads
• ₹100 m; Width of the link roads
• ₹240 crore; Estimated cost of the project
• ₹11.83 crore; Cost of preparation of DPR

BBMP to spend ₹3,108 per sapling

 Planting saplings as an alternative to uprooted trees for K-Ride project

BBMP to spend ₹3,108 per sapling

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The forest department has once again come forward to plant and nurture 34,000 saplings in two zones under BBMP jurisdiction at a cost of ₹3,108 per sapling.

The BBMP has been entrusted with the task of planting and nurturing saplings as an alternative to the trees that have been cleared by the Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (K-Ride) project. The BBMP forest department, which has received the money, has started the sapling planting process.

The forest department has called for tenders to plant saplings in Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli zones and maintain them for five years. Although the sapling planting work was to be carried out in two zones, it has been divided into nine parts. A separate plan has been made to plant saplings in four parts in Mahadevapura zone and five parts in Bommanahalli zone. 

‘There is no need to spend ₹3,000 on a sapling. Any sapling, even if it grows to six feet, can be obtained for a maximum of ₹200. Spending thousands of rupees on maintenance is a waste. BBMP claims to have planted lakhs of saplings so far. But in reality, they have not maintained them. They are planning to plant saplings just to make ends meet,’ complained environmental activist Vijay.

This is not the first time: This is not the first time that the BBMP Forest Department has spent more than ₹3,000 on each sapling. In July 2024, a tender was called and work orders were issued to plant 10,900 saplings on both sides of the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) being built on the outskirts of the city between Dabaspet and Doddabelavangala at a cost of ₹3.4 crore. Even though summer is starting this year, there is no sign of those saplings being planted, and no G-tags have been installed.

The work has been divided into 27 works to plant 1,13,500 saplings in BBMP zones and will start in 2024. ₹21.36 crore is being spent for this, with each sapling costing ₹1,881. Despite criticism from the public about this wasteful expenditure, the work has been continued by the Forest Department.

When we tried to contact Swamy, Deputy Conservator of Forests, for a comment on the wasteful expenditure on saplings, he did not pick up the call.

• The third project is costing more than ₹3,000 per sapling
• Forest Department not yielding to opposition from environmental activists
• G-Tag information on saplings not available to the public

₹10.59 crore; Cost of saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli zones

34,100; Number of saplings to be planted in two zones

₹4.87 crore; Cost of saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura zone

15,700; Saplings to be planted in Mahadevapura zone

₹5.71 crore; Saplings to be planted in Bommanahalli zone

18,400; Saplings to be planted in Bommanahalli zone

DPR for Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road

DPR for Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road

Bengaluru: BBMP has started preparations for the construction of the Twin Tube East-West Tunnel Road in the city and has invited tenders for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

To ease traffic in the city, tenders will be invited in February for the construction of the 18-km long ‘North-South Corridor’ tunnel road from Hebbal to Silk Board. The cost of this will be ₹17,780 crore, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had recently said.

The tunnel road will be constructed in two phases, and the project will be funded by the BBMP and the government. Power Finance Corporation and HUDCO have come forward to provide loans. He also said that those who pay money at low interest rates will be given opportunities through auction.

Also read… Tunnel Fee 18 per KM

The second phase of the East-West Corridor Tunnel planned under the BBMP is to be constructed as a twin tube tunnel (double deck) with six lanes and a length of 28 km. It is estimated that the cost of this will be around ₹25,000 crore.

The BBMP has a feasibility report with maps for constructing the East-West Corridor Tunnel from K.R. Pura via Jawaharlal Nehru Park, C.V. Raman Hospital, Indiranagar, Domlur, Lalbagh, National College, Chamarajpet, Karyasiddhi Anjaneya Temple to Nice Road Junction near Nayandahalli. The DPR has now been prepared accordingly and the DPR will be ready within eight weeks of the finalization of the tender.