Bangalore (Metro Rail News): The long waits of more than an era for the completion of 6.52-km elevated Metro line on Kanakapura Road is going to come to an end. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is going to begin trial runs by August 20. BMRCL has planned to power the traction of the third rail in phases and is currently in the last leg of preparations for running trolleys before the stretch is thrown open to the public.
The BMRCL recently issued a public notice asking people not to come in contact with 33kv cables and the 750 volt DC third rail installed on the viaduct, stating that they would begin the testing works. “We plan to start the trial runs by August 20 as works related to telecommunication, signalling and traction are almost ready. The trials could go on for 30-45 days, followed by an inspection from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. The Metro line will be ready for commercial operations by September-end or the first week of November,” a senior BMRCL was stated saying in a media report.
The 6.52-km Metro line is an extension of Reach 2 of Phase 1 from Yelachenahalli to Anjanapura. The stretch comprises of five elevated Metro stations such as Konankunte Cross, Doddakallasandra, Vajrahalli, Thalaghattapura and Anjanapura. The line will also have a separate depot but its construction has been delayed due to land availability. The BMRCL is yet to acquire 19 out of the 21 properties needed for the depot.
The small Metro line will also be the first of the six stretches of the 72-km Phase II project that will be open for commercial operations this year. The remaining five corridors are in different stages of completion. While the extension of the Metro line towards Mysore road from Nayandahalli is the next stretch slated to be ready by February next year, a 13-km underground corridor will be the last of the Phase II projects that will be completed by 2024-25.
A long Delay
As per the original plan, the BMRCL had scheduled the completion of the 6.52-km elevated Metro line by March 2018. The Rs 508.85 crore contract was awarded to Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) on January 2016. The project, however, missed several deadlines primarily due to non-availability of land. The Metro line required an acquisition of 12 government and 294 private properties.
