Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is raising red flags over Karnataka's plan to combine elevated road corridors with Bengaluru Metro Phase-3 . Transportation expert Prof. Ashish Verma warns this double-decker model could harm public transport,boost costs,fuel use,and pollution .
Findings from IISc's Sustainable Transportation Lab released June 28. They compare 2041 scenarios: one with Metro Phase-3 alone,another adding elevated roads. Study suggests more road capacity might increase private vehicle use,undermining sustainable transport goals.
Under double-decker plan,Metro's public transport share could fall from 28.1% to 26.7%,while bus ridership might drop from 29.24% to 22.84%. Meanwhile,private vehicle reliance is set to jump,with car use doubling from 3.65% to 7.45% and two-wheelers from 18.31% to 19.59%. Loss of 11,000 daily Metro riders could hit fare revenue,deepen private transport reliance.
And if double-decker corridors link with planned North-South Tunnel Road,public and non-motorized transport share could dive from 81.87% to 75.56% by 2041. Report highlights worrying environmental,financial impacts: daily fuel use up nearly 7,000 liters, costing about Rs 6.45 lakh more. Carbon emissions might rise 17 tonnes per day,with other pollutants climbing too.
Report argues these outcomes clash with Metro's goals of cutting traffic congestion,pollution, and reducing private vehicle reliance. Financially,Metro Phase-3 cost could soar from Rs 6,683.8 crore to Rs 9,547.34 crore with double-decker design,a Rs 2,863.54 crore hike. Stronger foundations,more infrastructure blamed for cost spike.
Economic viability questioned. Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) for Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) investment pegged at 9.07%,below Union Ministry's 14% benchmark. With road agency investment,EIRR could drop to 5.43%. Compliance with Union government approvals in doubt,revised plan potentially weakening multimodal integration,pedestrian access.
Proposed elevated road missing from Bengaluru's approved Comprehensive Mobility Plan,needing fresh Central approval. Prof. Verma warned boosting road capacity next to Metro corridors might hurt Bengaluru's long-term mobility goals by encouraging private vehicle use,not public transport.
Despite this,Karnataka government backs double-decker plan. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar strongly supports it,saying it's key to tackling Bengaluru's growing traffic issues and road expansion limits.
Bengaluru's Metro Phase-3 aims for double-decker corridors along Outer Ring Road West,Magadi Road,spanning 44.6 km. State also approved extra 37-km double-decker road,costing Rs 9,700 crore,state-funded. Revised proposal changes original Metro alignment,needing new Central approval. Chief Minister Shivakumar has discussed with PM Modi,Union Housing Minister Khattar.
Meanwhile,BMRCL has issued tenders for 18.5 km of Phase-3 Orange Line civil works,though contracts aren't awarded yet. Karnataka approved two Metro Phase-3 corridors in November 2022,Central nod came in August 2024…
