411 trees to cut for Bangalore Airport Metro line

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd BMRCL has applied for permission to clear trees obstructing work on the KR Puram-Kempegowda International Airport route.

The High Court has granted Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited to clear 411 trees that were obstructing infrastructure works.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board planted 4,110 saplings at Marenahalli in exchange for felled trees. It has been decided to plant in the space park (Aero Space Park).

The High Court has allowed us to cut down a total of 382 trees and relocate 29 of them near Kempapur and Bagalur Cross metro stations. Divya Hosur, the general manager, of social and environmental issues and IT, BMRCL, said that ten times more saplings will be planted than the number of trees we cut down.

A High Court order by Acting President Alok Aradhe and Judge S Vishwajit Shetty ordered BMRCL to plant an adequate number of trees to replace those that were being removed. Divya said the order was issued in response to an official memorandum filed in court by the BBMP Deputy Conservator of Forests on July 26 regarding these trees obstructing the BMRCL airport project.

A senior BMRCL official said that the construction of the Kempapur, Hebbal and Bagalur crossing stations has been affected due to the presence of trees. The Kempapura interchange station was a problem here. It will connect the 3rd level and the airport, he said.

According to New Indian Express report, on September 15, the Railway Board granted BMRCL final authorization to operate the seven new trains (42 coaches) purchased from BEML for its East-West or North-South Corridor at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. BMRCL sought in June some modifications to the previous order issued by the board on May 18, 2022, and it was approved by the board a couple of days ago, a senior official said. "We will deploy the coaches on our upcoming Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line," he said.

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