After the dummy on M.G. Road, it was time for the city to experience the real thing as the first coach of Namma Metro reached its destination here on Monday.
The driver motor car (DMC), one of the three of the first train, was unveiled at the Byappanahalli Metro Depot amidst much fanfare.
The 43-seat DMC was shipped from South Korea to Chennai after which it was transported to Bangalore.
More coaches
Two more coaches — another DMC and a trailer car — were scheduled to arrive late Monday night.
Three cars will be coupled together by this weekend to make the city's first metro train.
By the end of this month, years of hard work will be put to test as the train will be taken on a trial run on the test track within the depot premises.
Celebrations
After the initial jitters as the car was lowered onto the tracks, excitement was palpable when it was successfully unloaded from the trailer.
Though the public was not there to witness the event, employees of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and of the four companies forming the consortium — Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Mitsubishi, Melco and Hyundai Rotem — celebrated by distributing sweets.
“It has taken so much work. Now that it is close to completion, it feels like our efforts are being rewarded,” said a BMRCL employee.
‘Project on schedule'
Metro officials were confident the ambitious project would meet the December deadline.
“In another two-and-a-half months, the people of the city will be able to use the metro,” said a BMRCL spokesperson, referring to the Metro Reach-1 between Byappanahalli and M.G. Road.
Dee Y. Lee, Project Manager of the consortium, expressed happiness that the first train had arrived in the city and promised that more would follow soon.
