Metro to replace rail link to BIA?

BANGALORE: The ambitious High Speed Rail Link (HSRL) to Bengaluru International Airport is again on a shaky wicket. After facing strong ABIDe objections, the project was put back on track by government, with the cabinet approving it twice over.
With the slowdown and the project being modelled on public-private partnership, there is an air of uncertainty ��� will international firms be ready to invest in the Rs 5,800-crore rail link? The project's future now hinges on the Global Investors' Meet scheduled for January.If firms evince interest, HSRL will chug along. If not, the government is ready with an alternative ��� extend the Metro up to BIA. "We will place the rain link project at the investors' meet. Alternatively, we are planning to extend Metro. BMRC has been asked to prepare a detailed project report," chief minister B S Yeddyurappa told The Times of India.
The infrastructure department which is implementing the project has invited tenders for the second time and got response from 27 firms. After a meeting with the authorities to clarify some finer points, the firms have sought some time. The bids will open in the last week of August.
"Alternatively, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation is getting the detailed project report ready for extension of Metro to BIA and also working on the cost factor," CM's principal secretary V P Baligar added.