BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): The cost of Phase II of the Namma Metro project which is under construction has increased by Rs 4,290 crore. The BMRCL had estimated that the completion of the project would cost ₹26,405 crores for 72-km network but now, the cost has increased upto Rs 30,695 crores. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) revealed this information while giving a reply to the questions raised by Rajya Sabha member G.C. Chandrashekar.
BMRCL said that the compensation paid towards the acquisition of land is the reason due to which the cost has increased. The land acquisition cost is entirely borne by the Karnataka Government as per the ministry’s reply.
The reply also states that as of February 2022, the physical and financial progress of the project is 63.5% and 65.24%, respectively and out of the 72 km metro line, 13.65 km has become operational. The reply mentioned that “Phase II of the project is delayed due to delay in land acquisition, execution of contracts, permission for tree removal, and COVID-19 pandemic”.
According to the sources the ongoing Phase II project which includes the construction of two metro lines from R.V. Road to Bommasandra and Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara — 12,88, 206 sq. metres of the land was identified, out of which 12,77,433 sq. metres of the land has been acquired. The BMRCL has already spent a ₹6,495 crore towards the payment of compensation to the landowners.
An official said, “In 2011, it was estimated that land acquisition would cost ₹2,100 crore. Land acquisition for the project started in a phased manner in 2015. There are various factors for the rise in land acquisition costs, including the implementation of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013; increased guidance value over the years; revision in the extension of land required for the project; widening of the road near metro alignment; and delay in acquisition of land due to litigations.”
