Here is an interesting update for south Bengaluru residents waiting to commute by Namma Metro.
The tunnelling work between Kempegowda Station at Majestic and Chickpet, crucial to connect the north-south corridor, is in the final stage, with just about 100 metres of the work remaining, which is likely to be completed in the next few weeks.
After boring for about 750 metres from the Kempegowda Station, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) Krishna is just 60 rings (90 metres) away from the breakthrough point. The connection of the 24-km north-south line also marks the completion of phase one. While work on one tunnel has been completed and track-laying work is in progress on this stretch, the second tunnel will be completed once TBM Krishna makes the breakthrough.
Krishna, which had been boring the tunnel at the rate of 2 metres a day, has now picked up pace and is clocking an average 4.5 metres daily.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) is also working on dismantling the Kaveri TBM, which finished the parallel tunnel on June 8.
Meanwhile, BMRCL sources said they were hoping to push a train, using the completed tunnel, for trial runs on the new line — Kempegowda Station to Puttenahalli Station and Kempegowda Station to Sampige Road Station.
“This means that we can look at testing on the National College–Puttenahalli stretch by September and be ready for inspection by October,” a senior BMRCL official said, and added that they were hopeful to commence commercial operations before the year-end.
Krishna TBM
Current progress: 4.5 metres a day (3 rings)
Remaining: around 90 metres (60 rings)
