Having commissioned Namma Metro Line (Reach) 1, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) is now focussing on Reaches 3, 3a and 3b, which are scheduled for completion next year.
This stretch of the north-south corridor houses the operational and control station — Peenya Depot — that caters to the entire corridor.
This 11-km corridor from Hessarghatta Cross to Swastik has more commercial potential compared with Reach 1 between Byappanahalli and Mahatma Gandhi Road. Also, the volume of passengers will be four times more, according to senior BMRCL officials. The reach has 13 stations, starting from Sampige Road (Swastik), Sriramapura, Maha Kavi Kuvempu, Rajajinagar, Mahalakshmi, Soap Factory, Yeshwanthpur (Reach 3), Outer Ring Road, Peenya Industry, Peenya Village (Reach 3a), Jalahalli Cross, Dasarahalli Cross and Nagasandra (Hessarghatta Cross).
While Simplex Constructions has been entrusted with construction of the viaduct (5.5 km) from Swastik to Yeshwanthpur, Punj Loyd-Sembawang and L & T are constructing three stations each on this reach. Construction of the viaduct and three stations on Reach 3a is assigned to L & T and viaduct and three stations on Reach 3b is being undertaken by JMC Projects. Peenya Depot is being constructed by URC Constructions. Sampige Road Station is being built by Mantri Developers under a controversial public-private partnership deal. About 70 per cent work on the stretch has been completed, said P.N. Nayak, Chief Engineer in-charge of this stretch. He said that all the civil works are expected to be complete in six months. Mr. Nayak said that every month about 1 km of the corridor is being readied for taking up track and other works.
