BIAL connectivity updates Novenmber 2007

Newspapers have been reporting a lot of action on BIAL connectivity front. Some tidbits:

“The design of the trumpet interchange has been finalised in coordination with the NHAI to accommodate the expansion to eight lanes. The interchange work will not be delayed. Most of it will be ready for the airport opening date of March 30 and completed by July 2008,’’ said Albert Brunner, CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL).

The infrastructure task force (basically a body of concerned industrailists of the city) is supposed to have met today (Thursday), we should have more updates in newspapers tomorrow. But it seems:

In the long term, the task force is thinking of an express train service, a Peripheral Ring Road and an Express Highway Ring Road, sources said.

Last week, Livemint reported that:

BIAL will pick up an equity stake in a proposed elevated mass transit rail network to transfer passengers from the airport to the city, according to Albert Brunner.

Meanwhile, we have not heard more details of the plan DMRC submitted last month for this rail connection. No word on the estimated cost either.

TOI/ET reported that BMTC has ordered for 40 Volvo buses that will provide non-stop connectivity to BIAL from six spots within the city. The six spots were not mentioned.

There has been no update recently on the Outer Ring Road upgrades as was being suggested by some last month. No update on the status of NH207 upgrade to create a BIAL connection from the east side (Whitefield).