This Article is From Mar 13, 2015

Bengaluru: Metro Rail Phase One Likely To Be Operational Before Year End

Bengaluru: Metro Rail Phase One Likely To Be Operational Before Year End

First Phase of Namma Metro is expected to be completed before 2015 year end.

Bengaluru:

Bengaluru commuters have something to cheer about. Namma Metro has crossed a milestone with one of its underground tunnel section finally complete. Delay in laying the tunnel was one of the reasons why the metro project was running behind schedule. This is now expected to speed up completion of phase one.

Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, says "The trials will take about three months to complete and then it will be open to public. The East-West corridor is about 20 kilometres long including the tunnel. We are targeting a full completion of phase one by November this year."

He attributes the delay to the hardness of the rocks on which the city is built. "The rocks are extremely hard and it was a challenge for our engineers to negotiate them. Some of the best machines in the world have broken down. Boring of these tunnels was a big challenge and our engineers can say they have achieved a great feat," said Mr Kharola at a press interaction on Thursday where the newly completed tunnel was shown. Bengaluru has the oldest igneous rocks in the country.  

The tunnel, which is five kilometres long, connects the Eastern and Western corridor. It is a part of the East West line, which the authorities say will be completed and operational by end of this year. Test runs from Cubbon Road Station to Magadi Road Station on are likely to begin soon.

While, part of the Eastern corridor which runs from Byapanahalli to Mahatma Gandhi Road, the western corridor had been held up because of the incomplete tunnel.

This is a very important milestone in the history of Namma Metro. It has entered the underground section for the first time.

Phase-I consists of 42 kilometres including nine kilometres of underground section.

With commuting being one of the biggest challenges in Bengaluru city, the hope is the Metro will make a difference to the way people move around the city.

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