BENGALURU, (Metro Rail News): Banglore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has started a trial run on the Purple Line western extension from Mysore Road to Kengerion a route length of 7.5 km.
The purpose of the trail run on the section is to assess the Schedule of Dimensions i.e. the distance between the track and the nearest structure in order to ensure that there are no physical obstructions along the route when the train runs on the track. BMRCL commence trial run with a six-coach train.
As per BMRCL MD Ajay Seth, commercial operations will begin on the route from June as per schedule. This section under Reach 2A/2B (Mysore Road to Challaghatta) includes 7 elevated stations: Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagara, Jnana Bharathi, Pattanagere, Mailasandra, Kengeri Bus Terminal and Challaghatta, with a total route length of 8.81 km. The last station Challaghatta which lies across NICE Peripheral Road, is expected to become operational by March 2022.
The contract for this section of Purple Line western extension is awarded in two parts. Reach 2A section of 3.94 km from Mysore Road to Pattanagere was awarded to IL&FS Company for four stations at INR 327 crore and Reach 2B from Pattanagere to Challaghatta of 4.86 km to Soma Enterprise at INR 332 crore. At the same time, Alstom has bagged the contract for the supply of electrification and signalling works. Once operational, this section will reduce the travel journey time between Mysore Road and Kengeri to 15 minutes and with an expected daily ridership of 75,000 passengers on the section.
