Bengaluru Metro work on slow track, iron rods of pillars at Tin Factory gather rust

BENGALURU: The deadline for Byappanahalli-Whitefield (15km) Metro corridor is August 2021, but work at Tin Factory Junction is progressing at a snail’s pace.
Sources said land acquisition issues and frequent design changes have slowed down the work. TOI found no labourers at the site during the weekend as work has been suspended for the past few months. Road users said iron rods of the pillars have begun rusting.
Three Metro lines — Byappanahalli-Whitefield, Outer Ring Road-Kempegowda International Airport and depot entry line — will pass through the junction.Earlier, BMRCL had planned a road-cum-Metro double-decker flyover there, but it was later scrapped.
“The three Metro lines at that busy section required complex design with emphasis on efficient usage of the road area. The future suburban rail and other projects at Byappanahalli have been taken into account while designing it. Work has commenced from one end of Benniganahalli tank bund and will pick up pace once BMRCL gets permission for translocation of trees,” said BMRCL managing director Ajay Seth.
Asked about the bad shape of the iron rods at Tin Factory station, he said: “We’ll provide necessary chemical treatment to the exposed parts of the piers already constructed.”Once the portals to accommodate the three Metro lines are constructed, work on the station at Jyothinagar will start.While that station may get delayed, BMRCL is aiming to get the Whitefield line through Byappanahalli to KR Puram, he added.
According to him, the project does not require the lakebed area. Only the bund needs to be resized with a minimum walking width of 5 metres to construct a diversion road. BBMP and Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority have given the green signal. Permission for translocation or removal trees is awaited, he said.
“While there will be three Metro lines, the road capacity is being augmented with atgrade widening. The section between KR Puram station and Tin Factory will have a six-lane road on the southern side and five-lane road on the northern section. A two-lane additional flyover from Tin Factory to Kasturinagar is also part of the road infrastructure,” Seth said.
Urban mobility expert RK Misra said resizing of the tank bund has been delaying the work. “It took over six months to get approval. BBMP and the lake authority have given their nod to resize the bund to construct the diversion road and post the Metro construction, that will become additional two outgoing lanes on Old Madras Road,” he said.
He pointed out the permission for tree relocation has been delayed because of a PIL in the high court and further proceedings. “Metro projects, by their design, are green projects as the trains replace and reduce fuel-guzzling cars. Every tree must be saved but some are too large or old to be relocated. I hope the PIL will be disposed of soon,” Misra added