After eight months of deadlock, the Centre has cleared the high-speed rail link (HSRL) connecting Bangalore to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). The central empowered committee has not only approved the much-awaited HSRL, but also agreed to take up project on a 50:50 basis, thus, reducing the state’s burden.
The state had proposed to undertake the project under the Mysore Tramways Act, 1905, but the Centre refused to gives its assent since the Act is meant for projects in municipal limits.
The Centre’s approval however, comes with a rider. The projects must be executed under the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, and Metro Operations and Maintenance Act, 2002. Karnataka has agreed to amend the Acts to speed up the project.
“We have reached an agreement with the Central government to make amendments in the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, and after completing formalities, we will finalise the tender process by the first week of March” said V Madhu, principal secretary, infrastructure development department. The work will begin in June, as land acquisition process will be completed by then, he said.
The Rs6,689-crore project came to a standstill in May 2010, following confusion over the selection of legal cover required for implementing the project.
For the project, Bangalore Airport Rail Link Limited (BARL) has short-listed the likely contenders — Reliance Infrastructure Ltd and CSR Nanjing Uzhen Rolling Stock, L&T Transco Ltd, Italian Thai Development Company Ltd and SOMA Enterprises Ltd (ITD-SOMA), Pioneer Infratech Pvt Ltd and Siemens Project Venture, and Lanco Infratech Ltd and OHL Concessions.
