Bengaluru: The trial run of the North-South Corridor of Metro will be conducted by mid-September and the entire Phase 1 is all set to become operational by November 1.
Briefing reporters after the breakthrough of Kaveri tunnel boring machine at Chikka Lalbagh area on Wednesday, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, said, “The entire Phase 1 will become operational by Kannada Rajyotsava Day.” Trial runs for the North-South Corridor will be carried out by mid-September, he said. The East-West Corridor (Baiyappanahalli to Mysuru Road) has nearly 1.1 lakh passengers daily while the North-South Corridor (Mantri Mall Sampige Road to Nagasandra) has 40,000 passengers on an average, he added.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director, Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “Kaveri’s breakthrough ensures that North and South of Bengaluru can be connected now.”
Metro’s N-S Corridor runs a distance of 24.2 kms and will connect Nagasandra with Puttenahalli.
Trials on the Jayanagar route (Puttenahalli to Chickpet) can now begin by mid-September, he added.
Elaborating on the difficulties encountered by Kaveri, the MD said that apart from the challenging geological conditions, other practical difficulties were encountered. “A toilet caved in at Victoria Hospital. Again near the Sirsi Flyover, the machine was working just one inch from a column near the flyover and extreme care had to be taken. At Chickpet, a few old buildings were damaged due to the drilling work.”
‘City Market Road will be reopened within two weeks’
The City Market road, which has been blocked for long due to Metro operations will be reopened within two weeks, Kharola said. Jim Clark, Projects Manager (India), The Robbins Company, which was involved in Kaveri operations said, “On a scale of 10, it would be rated Nine for the achievement.”
Lok Home, president, The Robbins Company, expressed his happiness over the same and said, “The mode of transport used showcases the culture and architecture of the City.”
