Bengaluru: The double-decker corridor plan at Benniganahalli, designed to facilitate Metro and suburban rail operations, has resulted in savings of approximately Rs 169 crore for the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride), the implementing agency of the Bengaluru Suburban Transport Project (BSTP). According to a report published by K-Ride, this innovative rail engineering solution has led to a reduction in project expenditure ranging from Rs 150 crore to Rs 169 crore.
Agreement and Design
In 2021, K-Ride and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) entered into an agreement to create a unique multi-level transport corridor. Under this plan, the suburban line's Corridor 4 (Kanaka Line) viaduct, running between Heelalige and Rajanakunte, is positioned directly below Namma Metro's Blue Line (Phase 2A) viaduct near the Benniganahalli flyover. This arrangement accommodates two mass rapid transit systems within a common right of way, with both Metro and suburban trains running parallel to each other for approximately half a kilometre.
Cost and Land Savings
In addition to monetary savings, the agency reported that a significant amount of residential land was preserved during the process. The engineering solution avoided the acquisition of nearly 1.6 acres of premium land, thereby preventing the displacement of around 600 residents. The integration of two distinct electrical traction systems (AC and DC) has been vetted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Yeshwantpur Multi-Transit Hub
With Yeshwantpur set to transform into a multi-transit hub, K-Ride will align the suburban rail line between the Metro and railway stations. The station is part of BSTP's Corridor 1, which runs between KSR Bengaluru and Devanahalli, along with a branch line to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). K-Ride will soon complete construction of the elevated structure between the stations, as Yeshwantpur railway station is currently being redeveloped by Indian Railways.
Challenges and Solutions
As the elevated structure passes through the railway station's circulating area, K-Ride estimates that constructing an elevated viaduct will become challenging once railways completes the redevelopment. To address this, approximately 500 metres of the proposed BSTP alignment has been considered for constructing a permanent viaduct structure within railway land, connecting the Corridor 1 alignment from KSR to Devanahalli. CEM India has been awarded the contract to construct this elevated structure between the stations.
