The countdown for opening the 9.9-km Peenya to Sampige Road stretch of Namma Metro is expected to begin next week when a team from the Ministry of Railways commences oscillation trials on Reach 3 (Sampige Road to Yeshwantpur) and 3A (Yeshwantpur to Peenya Industrial Area).
The oscillation trials, conducted by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), are followed by issue of speed certificate by RDSO and authorisation by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety to commence commercial operations.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. was expected to open the line for the general public by November-end. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had even made an announcement in this regard. However, going by the ground realities, commercial operations may not start before January 2014.
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola told The Hindu in Belgaum that all the necessary work to start operations, including civil, signalling, telecommunications, traction, are complete. Trains have been run on the stretch at the planned speeds in preparation for the trials. As compared to Reach 1 (Byappanahalli to M.G. Road), Mr. Kharola said BMRCL is expecting a better response to Reaches 3 and 3A as they connect densely populated areas and industrial suburbs. “We expect at least one lakh people to take Namma Metro from Day 1,” he said.
