The acquisition of land for Bengaluru Metro Phase 2B is at a standstill.

The land acquisition issue for the Shettigere depot has now become a bottleneck for the airport metro line. The Phase 2B extension (Airport Line–K R Puram to Kempegowda International Airport) is 38 kilometres long, according to Metro officials.

The construction of a Metro depot at Shettigere is a critical component for this stretch. The State Government has already transferred 18 acres of the required 23 acres to the BMRCL. The problem, however, is with the remaining five acres of land.

According to BMRCL sources, the five-acre land parcel is in litigation and is awaiting orders from the Special Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban District. BMRCL has now requested that the State Government transfer 4-34 acres of land adjacent to the 18 acres granted for the depot. The proposal is now being considered by the Deputy Commissioner.

Meanwhile, land acquisition issues afflict other stretches as well. Out of the 3,09,379.97 sqm required for the 18.5-kilometer stretch from New Line – R V Road – Bommasandra, 3,08,232.00 sqm has been acquired and handed over to the engineering section. The Government has approved the final notification for the acquisition of an additional area of 1147.97 sqm, and the Land Committee report is awaited.

According to a BMRCL document, an additional area of 222.90 sqm for Pottery Town Station is required for the 22-kilometer Reach-6 (New Line – Kalena Agrahara – IIMB – Nagawara) stretch. Similarly, additional land (582.25 square metres) is required for the viaduct, 157.10 square metres for the Nagawara Metro Station, and 883.00 square metres for the RMS Station (Vellara Station).

The acquisition of land along the Green Line is now complete. All land required for the three-kilometer Reach-3C (Nagasandra – Bangalore International Exhibition Centre) stretch has been acquired and handed over to the engineering section.

The High Court has set aside the acquisition of an additional 1885.11 sqm for providing road links to Chikkabidarakallu Metro Station from Anchepalya and other villages via Jindal-Prestige Layout. Now, a private construction company has agreed to provide a 12-foot-wide approach road through its property.

Civil work status quo

The Reach 5-P-2 (Hosa Road – Bommanahalli) stretch has been completed, while the Bommasandra to Hosa Road stretch is 92% complete and the Bommanahalli to RV Road stretch is 76% complete. The stretches that are lagging behind are Kalena Agrahara to Swagath Cross Road, which has only 30 percent of the work completed, and Central Silk Board to KR Puram and the airport, which has only 14.5 percent of the work completed.