The Karnataka government has mooted the formation of a special purpose vehicle, Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd, to develop a 34-km dedicated rail link to the new Bangalore (Bengaluru) International Airport which is scheduled to turn operational on March 30, 2008. Airport developer Bangalore International Airport Ltd will be a stakeholder in the SPV with other entities being Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, Greater Bangalore City Corporation, Bangalore Development Authority and the Karnataka government. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is the project consultant and has already submitted the feasibility report to the state government.
BARL is scheduled to complete the Rs 3,176-crore project by January 2011 with work expected to begin latest by December 2008. Around 40 hectares of land would be needed for the project out of which 13.2 hectares is currently available. The project cost includes Rs 155 crore towards land acquisition while Rs 2,677 crore would be spent on the rail facilities.
Route: The railway track will start from BRV Grounds and pass through Police Thimmaiah Circle, Raj Bhavan Road-Sankey Road, Windsor Manor junction, Mehkri Circle-Hebbal flyover. This stretch of the track will be elevated. From the Hebbal flyover, the track will be at grade (ground level) along NH-7 (Bangalore-Hyderabad section).