BMRCL Gets Only 9 Acres for Hebbal Metro Hub

17 Jul 2025 CW Team

A high-level committee chaired by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh has approved the allocation of nine acres of land near Hebbal to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), significantly reducing the original request of 45 acres. The decision was made despite appeals from notable figures such as Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, former Infosys director Mohandas Pai, and Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, who represents Bengaluru North in the Lok Sabha.

Initially, BMRCL had planned a state-of-the-art multi-modal transport hub and had sought 45.5 acres for the purpose. However, in a surprising shift, the agency scaled down its request to just nine acres.

Shobha Karandlaje, along with MPs Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South), PC Mohan (Bengaluru Central), and MLA S Suresh Kumar, had urged the government to allocate the full land area, citing the metro hub’s strategic importance in easing congestion across the city.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that influential real estate interests lobbied the government to scrap or reduce the hub project. A meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on 5 May directed BBMP officials to revise the design, fuelling public scepticism about BMRCL receiving the land it originally sought.

For over 15 months, BMRCL maintained its request for 45 acres, envisioning a comprehensive hub featuring a metro depot, multi-level parking, and a tri-junction linking the blue, orange, and red metro lines, including access to the airport route.

In March last year, BMRCL formally requested 45.5 acres from KIADB, which had earlier acquired 55.13 acres in the Hebbal and Hebbal Amanikere areas from Lake View Tourism Company Limited—a project that has since stalled.

Despite the backing and the strategic significance of the proposed facility, BMRCL has now been asked to drastically revise its land and design requirements.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..