Following a study conducted by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), a six-car metro system has emerged as the most viable mass transit system to connect the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) with Silk Board. The BMRCL conducted the analysis through iDeCK for Outer Ring Road (Silk Board to KR Puram) and KR Puram to KIA lines.
The study analysed various transit systems including, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), Monorail, Metro Lite – elevated metro system (six- coach trains running at 3-minute headway) and Heavy Metro (8-coach trains at 3-minute headway). Various parameters which were considered for the analysis includes mobility effects, conceptual engineering effect, cost of the project, environmental, and social impact were considered for evaluation.
According to the study on the Outer Ring Road Line, around 4.5 lakh employees are working in tech parks and other companies on the corridor. Moreover, as per estimations, an additional 30 million square feet would be available for occupancy, which in turn projects eight lakh working population by the coming year. Due to the growing intra-city traffic, the Outer Ring Road (ORR) is under tremendous pressure and frequently faces traffic congestions resulting in low speeds and high travel times.
Hence, considering the mobility and traffic trends, the report analyses that required travel demand for the ORR corridor is 33,709 PHPDT (peak hour peak directional traffic) by 2041 and that the BRTS and Monorail cannot meet them.
“Metro rail system is a medium-capacity transit system having the passenger throughput between 20,000 PHPDT and 60,000 PHPDT, while the required travel demand for this corridor is 33,709 PHPDT, which clearly indicates that the metro system can easily fulfil the required travel demand for this corridor”, states the report. Also, this system is more familiar with Indian conditions and many cities are having this system. This system offers interoperability with existing mass transit systems in the city. Hence, the metro rail system is perfectly fit for this corridor,” the report added.
Considering the massive capacity of Heavy Metro system and the population in the city, the report analyses that the system would remain underutilised. Moreover, It has also got the disadvantages of higher land take, heavier civil structures, and heavy cost, added the report.
