In order to connect the two suburban rail lines Sampige (KSR Bengaluru – Yelahanka – Devanahalli) and Kanaka (Heelalige-Rajanukunte), a 2-km common corridor (double-decker structure) would be built at Yelahanka.
What’s it about? The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited, popularly known as K-RIDE, has issued a civil work tender for the Kanaka Line, asking for bids for the design and construction of an elevated viaduct (length: 8.9km) and an at-grade formation (length: 37.9km) excluding station buildings. The work also comprises the building of service roads, side drains, and road expansion.
Stations: The following stations will lie on the Kanaka Line: Rajanukunte, Muddanahalli Yelahanka (interchange), Jakkur, RK Hegde Nagar, Thanisandra, Hennur, Horamavu, Channasandra Benniganahalli (interchange), Kaggadasapura, Doddanekkundi, Marathahalli, Belandur Road, Carmelaram, Ambed.
- According to the tender documents, the Marathahalli and Yelahanka stations will be elevated, while the rest of the stations will be at-grade.
Common alignment: Between Benniganahalli and Channasandra, a span of 650 metres, the Namma Metro and Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) lines will share a common alignment. Both the BSRP and the BMRCL are aligned at Level 1, respectively.
- The contractor is tasked with liaising between K-RIDE and BMRCL at these places, as well as coordinating with the relevant BMRCL authorities and other agencies during the design and construction of the works.
Cost savings: Benniganahalli section alone was predicted to save the government at least ₹300 crores in land acquisition expenses since Metro pillars and land could be utilised to construct the suburban rail track, according to an earlier K-RIDE plan.