BMRCL Publishes Alignment of Gottigere-Nagawara Line’s UG Section

So back in early June, I published a post displaying the alignment of Bangalore Metro’s 13.92 km Dairy Circle – Nagawara underground section of the 72 km Phase 2 project based on a document prepared by AECOM, a global engineering design firm, which got appointed as Line-4’s detailed design consultant (DDC) in 2015-16.

Now the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has come out with a highly detailed Google map of their own featuring all 12 stations including the south ramp from where trains will enter/exit the tunnels towards the Swagath Road Station and onward to the multi-level Jayadeva Interchange Station on the line’s 7.50 km elevated Swagath Cross – Gottigere section.

Civil construction bids for this underground section’s tunnels, stations, ramps and other allied infrastructure were invited in late-June for four packages and contracts are expected to be awarded in 2018:

• Package 1 – Dairy Circle, MICO Industries, Langford Town
• Package 2 – Vellara Road, MG Road, Shivaji Nagar
• Package 3 – Cantonment, Pottery Town, Tannery Road
• Package 4 – Venkateshpura, Arabic College, Nagawara

The BMRCL’s map, currently linked up on their redesigned Home Page, has been embedded below. You can zoom in to it as much as you want –

Some pointers –

• The location of the Cantonment Station has drastically changed and will now be located further east, roughly a km away from the Cantonment Railway Station on a corporation playground used by Abdul Bari’s Primary and High School on Haines Road. This change could have been due to the ease of land acquisition or to minimize the length of the tunnels to bring construction cost down.

• The Vellara Station’s location is confirmed to be a little north of Baldwin Boys’ High School near Shoolay Circle. Reader Oswald earlier pointed this out in the comments section by looking at KIADB’s land acquisition notification. Hat tip to him.

• The Arabic College Station’s site will be closer to the Nagawara Main Road while the Nagawara Station’s site will be closer to the Outer Ring Road’s intersection. The location of the rest match up and remain unchanged from what was earlier posted.

• It would have nice if the 7.50 km Swagath – Gottigere section’s alignment was also published. That would have cleared a lot of questions that readers, users and local residents have.

Have I missed out on anything crucial? Drop a comment below.

For more updates, check out the Bangalore section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

45 Responses to "BMRCL Publishes Alignment of Gottigere-Nagawara Line’s UG Section"

  1. Sandeep says:

    I’m happy to see Vellara station located close to Shoolay circle. This will minimize time to interchange with phase III’s marathahalli to hosakerehalli line in the future.

    Reply
    • Ashok says:

      On the other hand, the Dairy Circle station will be far from the circle where the carmelaram to yelahanka line will pass in phase 3.

      Reply
  2. Ronith says:

    TMRG, I was going through the July newsletter and it said that for the elevated section of this line, the tenders had been opened and the LOA had been issued. To which JV had this been awarded to?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi, from what I know technical bid evaluation is still ongoing and financial bids haven’t been opened.

      The newsletter and everything else from the BMRCL has had its fair share of inconsistencies. In the recent past, they misled Venkaiah Naidu about the project’s progress. See the map in this tweet from a meeting held on February 12 2017. For Reach-3C, they’ve mentioned “Civil works tenders awarded” while their website mentions the contract to Simplex was awarded on February 27 2017. I’m not suggesting that’s the case here, but the omission of the contractor’s name is quite strange, especially when none of the folks I’m in touch with have not heard of its financial bids being opened. I’ll verify with more people.

      Reply
      • som pandit says:

        I want to leave this organization but you TMRG dont take any action and delete my comments too
        why you do like this
        why BMRCL DPP dont take resignation.
        why he dont release staff.
        why?????????????

        Reply
  3. M.LAKSHMI KANTA says:

    The Nagavara station now shifted from near Elements Mall to near by ring road junction is acceptable as the proposed Hebbal and K.R.Puram metro line which could run parallel to the ring road will get aligned to this line and proposed KIAL Metro.As I leave in this area there is plenty of land available around this junction and also will be more helpful to Manyata Park working people

    Reply
  4. sham says:

    1) Cantonment station location is inappropriate from the point of view of commuter access, especially for those with heavy baggage. I think the reason they chose this spot was to lower costs (as stated by TMRG), also to prevent tunneling below the array of tracks closer to the station that would take a lot more time & needs lot of additional monitoring devices (cost escalation!). With this alignment, tunneling is restricted to passing below a single set of tracks that are well clear of the station.

    The plan shows both metro station accesses facing away from Cantonment station on secondary roads. It would have been better if they had provided a passenger subway directly to Netaji road or even up to Cantonment station entrance. If road improvements are planned to improve station access (linking Netaji road), it should be fine, but walk distance to station needs to be minimized to the least, so far as possible.

    2) Dairy circle station is also about 500 mtrs from Marigowda road. This again makes it inconvenient for commuters, bulk of whom will be from institutions such as ITI, Dharmaram & Christ colleges, Nimhans, Kidwai institute etc, all located on Marigowda road. There is also a new line proposed along Marigowda road in phase-3 (Yelahanka-Sarjapura line). Not sure how the ph-3 line will be routed later, but seems like it may pose obstacles for interchange.

    3) All UG stations have only two accesses (except MG rd station), unlike stations in phase-1 that had more than two. Vellara junction could have had another access directly on Richmond road on the eastern side, Shivajinagar station could have had one more on Bowring hospital road, apart from Cantonmnet station that needs one on Netaji road or at Cantonment railway station (with subway).

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Good catch on #3!

      In AECOM’s report, I see a minimum of 3 entrances for each station. Either they’ve dropped the number to bring down cost (like recently done for Mumbai’s Line-3 after bids were opened) or the map designer just got lazy? Take a look at Nagawara station to see what I mean.

      In any case, if they go with 2 entrances, I’m sure they’ll be equipped with future access points like done at Cubbon Park.

      Reply
  5. Nitin Navali says:

    Isnt it feasible to extend the tunnel from diary circle even further, crossing the Jayadeva hospital underground itself, so that space on top is saved and also no need to reach higher level from ground too?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Not sure of that area’s soil profile, but I’m sure high construction cost would have been the biggest factor for not taking it underground.

      Reply
  6. Rajiv Krishna says:

    I’m a bit disappointed about the cantonment station’s location even though it might reduce construction and land acquisition costs. And one needs to walk far and this will be difficult especially if one has luggage. Hope they provide connectivity to cantonment from the metro station.

    Reply
  7. sriharsha says:

    Only hope the public pressure continues so that there is no slack in completing the new lines. After the green line was opened, there seems to be a slow down in other areas. The govt must also crack down on new registration of cars in Bangalore city and get rid of all vehicles over 10 years so that pollution is controlled.

    Reply
  8. M.LAKSHMI KANTA says:

    They have done a similar thing in city railway station also.The metro station is constructed far (one kilo meter) away from the main station which serves no purpose for the people arriving at this station.I think cantonment railway station will have the same fate.

    Reply
    • sham says:

      One kilometer? Please don’t mislead or fool readers here. City Railway station is adjacent metro station & pedestrian access is also under construction.

      Reply
      • TFM says:

        The concern raised by M. Lakshmi Kanta is valid and I too like many others have the same irritation. Cantonment railway station is going to be too far from Metro station particularly when you are travelling with luggage and more so for senior citizens. If Metro is being constructed at a huge cost and that after so many years with delays, it should at least suit the purpose for which it is being built. Else, people will shun it and continue to use cars and taxis which will be such a pity and colossal waste. Providing easy access with close proximity to Cantonment Railway Station from Metro Station is therefore crucial and the proposed location does NOT seem to fulfill this.

        Reply
        • Sham says:

          Please read comments properly. Lakshmi Kanta was claiming that metro stn is 1km from city railway stn, which is incorrect. I was clarying only about that point.

          The ‘irritation’ that you have is shared by everyone here (read all comments).

          Reply
  9. KRISHNAN says:

    Hi TMRG

    I was reading the news letter of July letter , was reading the over all work. I have a feeling that some sections of phase 2 may complete in a year itself. But not sure of they have option of turning the trains for the section.

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Pace of viaduct’s construction looks promising in all cities, but it’s the station work which ends up taking a lot of time. Reach-2A/B and Reach-4 need at least 2 years to become operational. A 2019-end opening looks possible, but they’ll likely open up in 2020. Let’s see…

      Reply
  10. Surya Prasad CA says:

    When will the elevated strech of Gottigere-Nagawara line start work? I see some trees are down in this strech, is this for Metro really? Where will the first station exactly fall at Gottigere, any idea? Also in RV Road-Bommasandra line few buildings are being demolished and I see metro barricades at few places, which is good sign….

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      BMRCL’s July 2017 newsletter mentions the contract has been awarded. If true, then give it another 1-2 months as the contractor needs to mobilize resources (equipment, man power etc).

      Reply
    • Vijay George Richards says:

      On Hosur road even i have seen building being demolished and barricades at a few places. But have not seen any news or signs of actual construction having started.

      Reply
      • Gyan Roy says:

        Saw a piling rig near proposed E-City Phase-2 station. Also saw one near white feathers a week back, but that rig is gone now.

        Reply
  11. M.LAKSHMI KANTA says:

    The distance between platform no 1(where many impartent trains arrive and depart) and the metro station will be a kilometer with most of the area deserted with no persons using this strecth.

    Reply
    • Sham says:

      It is not possible for metro stns to be provided close to railway platforms presently, but only close to railway stn entrances (unless massive investments are infused & railways change their policies to include underground metro stations below railway stations).

      For reaching platform No.1 at City railway stn, you should use Majestic station, not the rly metro stn.

      Metro stns are closest possible to entrances at City, Yeshwantapur & Baiyyappanahali stns. Only Cantt. metro stn is going to be far.

      Reply
  12. M.LAKSHMI KANTA says:

    Citing huge investment, Railways policy the traveling public of more long distance travel (I myself is not a treveller in trains first of all) are most inconvenienced at City Railway Station and will be more so at the Shivajinagar Railway Station..The same fate awaits KR Puram Station where the Metro Station is coming at Lowry Memorial which is far away from K.R Puram Station
    Let’s debate these issues and if it’s Railway Policy let them amend their policy to metigate problem faced by the traveling public.
    If this problem not looked into then tomorrow KIAL metro station will be at Devanahally as one of our commenter was telling that Airport Authority will object for Metro tunnelling under their runway

    Reply
    • sham says:

      Please talk sense & do not exaggerate or make silly statements repeatedly.

      Airport metro station is no problem as it is slated to come up below the terminal building. The concern about runway was not for station but for tunnel.

      If you are so concerned about metro stations being “far away” at City Railway station, Shivajinagar Railway Station, KR Puram Station etc, suggest you start a campaign for shifting all the metro stations under the respective railway stations.
      While at it, you can also ask for Baiyyappanahalli station to be shifted below Railway station as even that may be “too far” from Railway station.

      Reply
      • Gyan Roy says:

        If K R Puram metro station is coming at Lowry Memorial it is a good thing. Even today Car parks for K R Puram station is just opposite the Lowry Memorial. So, from current car park add 150, 200 feets for the metro station. That is not far by any stretch of imagination. I am sure they will provide direct pedestrian connectivity to between Railway and Metro station, not an issue at all.

        Reply
        • sham says:

          Exactly. But some people create issues out of nothing. Except for Cantonment station, I don’t see an issue anywhere. Even Dairy circle is not an issue considering that it has to cover the residential pockets adjacent to the station & northwards as well as the colleges south of it.

          Metro stations at Majestic, City Rly station, Baiyyapanahalli, KR Puram, Yeshwanthapur & even Gnanabharathi are spot on. Cantonment is the lone exception.

          Reply
  13. Krishna says:

    How are they going to build the pillars at places where there is long flyovers already. For example, there is the long flyover to E city on the hosur road. So how will the pillars for the RV road to bommasandra metro be built. Will it be on one side of the road adjacent to the flyover.

    Reply
    • Ashok Kumar says:

      On Hosur Road, the viaduct will come on the Western side of the flyover, i.e. on the right side when you go from Silk board to E City. The Viaduct will come up on the service road already present. There might be minimal land acquisition on the stretch with land required only for the stations.

      The Silk board flyover will mostly remain and the one near Jayadeva Hospital may be demolished. The govt is planning a road cum rail bridge from Ragigudda to Silk Board at a cost of Rs. 800 cr.

      On the proposed ORR Metro the viaduct with go on the median and in between the split flyovers present at many junctions along that road.

      Reply
      • Gyan Roy says:

        If you travel towards E-City, you will notice that Infosys has demolished its wall on the Hosur Road side. So, it is that side of the Hosur Road service road where metro will come.

        Reply
  14. Prathap says:

    Hi, Do have the information about who’re all contractors and designers participated in the Prebid queries for 4 UG Packages in Bangalore happened during the last week. When is the Technical Bidding last date and any specific contract clauses. Who is the general consultant for the project?. Please let us know the details. Thank you.

    Reply
  15. Vijay George Richards says:

    Good news for Cantonment station.

    SWR agrees to survey land for Cantonment Metro station
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/swr-agrees-to-survey-land-for-cantonment-metro-station/articleshow/59750420.cms

    Reply
  16. Hari says:

    Is there any detailed design available for the ramp near Nagawara flyover? Will the tracks still pass through via underground given the fact that we have flyover pillars along that route? Who will it impact the land being acquired on either side of the flyover?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      1) No detailed design is available at this time; the above map is the only alignment publicly available.
      2) Yes, will pass underground below the flyover
      3) Only the properties around the station box & its entrances will be impacted.

      Reply
  17. Raghu says:

    20+ days without an update?? I’m having withdrawal symptoms.

    Reply
  18. Kumar says:

    A fabulous journey of the Namma metro, thank you, since the location of cantonment station has changed, the alignment can it cross the railway lines further down, somewhere after Coles road and move towards pottery town station, tunneling of nearly 200 metres can be saved, your views. Older maps have this route.

    Reply
  19. Siddarth says:

    Hi TMRG , Can you confirm whether compensation has been paid to the owners of the properties of Fathima bakery, Toms and all the the Churh ?
    And can you confirm by when is the work going to commence at Vellara Junction ?

    Reply

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