Karnataka mulling elevated rail project

BANGALORE: The Karnataka government is considering an elevated rail project connecting the heart of this city to the new international airport at Devanahalli which is expected to be operational from April next year.
    
The project, providing connectivity from BRV Police Parade Grounds to the airport, is expected to cost Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 4,000 crore, Infrastructure Development Minister Sriramulu told reporters here.
    
He said a survey had been conducted for the project and the chief secretary will hold discussions with the railways on implementing the project on June 23.
    
On the Bangalore International airport, he said work was progressing on schedule and it will be ready by April 2008 as planned.
    
Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board will acquire about 650 acres for expansion and development of the Hubli airport.
    
In Mysore, he said, 175 acres had been handed over to the Airports Authority of India for revival and expansion of the airport there. Sriramulu said the state government will extend full cooperation and support to the IAF and AAI for developing the defence airport in Bidar for civilian use.
    
At Karwar, where the Seabird naval base is located, the government will acquire additional land for extension of the proposed runway and development of a civil enclave.
    
Action is being taken to develop the airports in Gulbarga, Shimoga and Bijapur on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The public works department planned to develop an airport in Hassan on PPP basis. Techno-feasibility studies had been commissioned for the proposed airports in Raichur and Kodagu, he said.