2 days ago
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The abbreviated passageway from Hebbal junction to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) successful Bengaluru volition beryllium executed nether the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, moving distant from the earlier program to instrumentality the task nether a hybrid model, according to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
Under the EPC mode, a azygous contractor volition grip the project’s design, procurement, and construction. While tenders for the task person precocious been finalised, the estimated operation outgo unsocial has already risen by ₹53 crore.
Officials said the task was shifted to the EPC mode for faster execution and arsenic the authorities of Karnataka wants greater power implicit the project, dissimilar hybrid models wherever backstage players are progressive successful financing and semipermanent operations.
“Under EPC, the government of Karnataka can fund the task directly. The mode besides reduces delays linked to revenue-sharing, toll recovery, oregon fiscal closure,” the authoritative said, adding that given the complexities progressive successful tunnelling work, the EPC exemplary was considered administratively simpler and easier to execute.
The operation was earlier estimated to outgo ₹1,086 crore, but the fig has present accrued to ₹1,139 crore, a elder BDA authoritative overseeing the implementation said, while maintaining that the wide task outgo would not balloon further.
Recently, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced that Hyderabad-based Rithwik Projects Private Limited, which quoted ₹1,139 crore for the project, had emerged as the palmy bidder.
Questions stay unanswered
However, some the BDA, which is spearheading the task to decongest postulation connected Ballari Road, and BSMILE, the peculiar intent conveyance progressive successful readying the project, are yet to respond to the concerns raised by the State Finance Department. Sources from the Finance Department said that they volition again constitute to the Urban Development Department, seeking a effect on their concerns.
The Finance Department had questioned however specified an costly project – described arsenic a ‘quick fix’ by the B-SMILE — tin beryllium justified. To this, the SPV had argued that the abbreviated passageway would service arsenic a speedy hole to the projected agelong passageway project, and assistance decongest postulation connected Ballari Road.
The Finance Department suggested constructing a aboveground road, arguing that it could beryllium completed faster and astatine astir one-tenth the outgo of the tunnel. The section has besides raised objections implicit claims that the task would easiness congestion, arguing that it whitethorn simply displacement postulation bottlenecks elsewhere.
The BDA maintained that roadworthy widening is not imaginable connected the stretch, and that the abbreviated passageway would assistance decongest postulation up to the airdrome road.
Officials said that the palmy bidder has begun an alignment survey to determine the nonstop way and engineering configuration of the tunnel, including its introduction and exit points, depth, onshore requirements, and possible impact on existing roads and adjacent infrastructure, earlier operation begins.
