JKIL-AICPL Begins Bangalore Metro Baiyappanahalli Depot’s D-Wall Work

J Kumar Infraprojects – AIC Infrastructures JV last week started grabbing and trenching works to construct the diaphragm wall (D-wall) of Bangalore Metro Purple Line’s remodeled Baiyappanahalli Depot.

Bangalore Metro’s operational Baiyappanahalli train maintenance depot in Phase 2A (ORR Line) is being repurposed to serve the new 57 km Blue Line, which along with Phase 2B (Airport Line), will connect Central Silk Board – KR Puram – Bengaluru International Airport.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) had awarded J Kumar – AICPL JV with Baiyappanahalli Depot’s Rs. 249.19 crore contract in March 2023 with a 821 day (2.25 year) completion deadline.

The depot was originally built by URC Constructions in Bangalore Metro’s Phase 1 and consists of 16 stabling bay lines (SBL), 3 inspection bay lines (IBL) and 4 repair bay lines (RBL). Its remodel involves augmenting stabling capacity from 16 to 42 lines by constructing two levels.

J Kumar – AICPL JV in March 2023 was also awarded the Airport Depot’s civil contract valued at Rs. 182.39 crore. Piling work for that small depot in Doddajala started in June 2023.

The remodel of Baiyappanahalli Depot is being planned in a phased manner so that it doesn’t affect train operations on the Purple Line.

When the Purple Line’s Kadugodi Depot and Challaghatta Depot go live, Baiyappanahalli Depot will be fully converted to service the Blue Line’s CBTC-equipped trains only. After long tendering delays, a contract for those trains (53 x 6 coaches) clubbed with Phase 2’s Pink Line was awarded last month to BEML.

Here’s my go-to video to demonstrate how D-walls are built to form the boundary wall of underground station boxes and cut & cover tunnels. In this depot’s case, the D-wall will act as a retaining wall for the lower level.

This is the 2nd time in India a metro depot is getting repurposed. In Delhi, the Violet Line’s Sarita Vihar Depot is currently getting remodeled in Phase 4 to serve Silver Line’s trains.

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– TMRG