Bangalore Metro: India’s First Underground Depot To Come Up In Baiyappanahalli

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) plans to construct India’s first underground depot near Baiyappanahalli.

The project involves the installation of 28 stabling lines (14 below ground and 14 above ground) at the 25-acre site, which already has 16 stabling lines.

The present yard near Baiyappanahalli will be demolished to make way for the new two-tier facility.

The BMRCL intends to construct 16 stabling lines (eight on the ground floor and eight more on the first floor) on the eight-acre unoccupied area on the side of Old Madras Road in the first phase.

“Such a design was finalised as the terrain on the side of the railway line is much lower than at Old Madras Road. Keeping in mind the train maintenance requirements, the work will be taken up in the second phase. Our immediate plan is to build a stabling yard on the vacant land in the same depot,” a senior BMRCL official said, reports metrorail today. 

The BMRCL issued a tender for the depot's design and construction. It has received seven bids for the construction of the Baiyappanahalli depot, which will be completed in two phases. 

URC Constructions, which constructed the present depot several years ago, ITD Cementation India, SCC Infrastructure Ltd, and others are among the bidders. These proposals are presently being evaluated technically.

Airport Depot

The BMRCL has begun preliminary work for the construction of a depot in Shettigere near Doddajala in addition to the ongoing construction of Phase II-B project linking the Kempegowda International Airport.

The depot has 12 stabling lines and spans 18 acres.