Citizens will have to wait till 2020 before they can use the metro to commute to Anjanapura and Kengeri. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which had earlier set 2019 as the deadline to start commercial operations on the extended lines on Kanakapura Road and Mysuru Road, said that both routes will now be operational by 2020.
BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth said that the extended metro line on Kanakapura Road will be operated first. “Civil works on the extended line will be completed by April 2019, and system works will follow,” he said. This means that the lines will be operational only by 2020.
When asked about whether the crisis at IL&FS has hit the ongoing metro work on Mysuru Road, Mr. Seth said, “As far as Mysuru Road is concerned, they have done 75% of the work and there are no issues.”
IL&FS has bid for one of the tenders on the Outer Ring Road metro project. Mr. Seth said , “We are yet to award the tender. We do understand there are issues and are closely evaluating them. We are not making any knee-jerk decision.”
Second six-coach train
Amid much fanfare, BMRCL, on Thursday, introduced the second six-coach metro on the Purple Line (Baiyappanahalli to Mysuru Road). However, passengers on the Green Line (Yelachenalli to Nagasandra) have to wait for at least another three months for their first six-coach train.
Priority will be given to the Purple Line, which will get six 6-coach trains before allotment for Green Line begins.
BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth said that this decision was taken due to high ridership on the Purple Line.
The occupancy rate on the Green Line is less than that of the Purple Line. For instance, between 9.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m., 19,400 passengers travel on the Purple Line. On the hand, the Green Line sees only around 9,700 passengers at the time time.
“I cannot say precisely in which month we will launch a six-coach train on the Green Line. It may happen in December or January,” said Mr. Seth.
The six-coach train has a carrying capacity of 2,074 while three-coach ones can carry 900-odd passengers.
Six-coach trains have come as a huge relief to passengers, especially during peak commuting hours. “There is barely space to breathe, especially during peak hours. I am glad they are introducing a new six-coach train,” said Neeti, a regular commuter.
On Thursday, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy inaugurated a foot over bridge connecting Metro Intersection station at Majestic with KSRTC and BMTC bus stands.
Skywalk link to city railway station
BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth said the skywalk connecting City Railway Metro Station with Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna City Railway Station will be completed within one month.
“On the integration of Yeshwantpur metro station with Yeshwantpur Railway Station, two rounds of discussions have been held with Railway officials to resolve various issues,” he said.
The Yeshwantpur metro station has been operational for over four years, but neither the railways nor BMRCL have been able to integrate the two stations.
Mr. Seth appraised Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy about this issue when he took the metro to reach Nagasandra on Thursday.
CM takes Namma Metro to work
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy took the metro train from Majestic to Nagasandra along with his cabinet colleague Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, Mayor Gangambike and others.
The CM travelled to Nagasandra to attend the Smart Asia India Expo and Summit at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).
