In around three-four months’ time, yet another section of the Namma Metro is likely to ease traffic in the city.
On Sunday, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), carried out the trial run on the southern line from KR Market to National College Metro Station in Basavanagudi, the Deccan Herald reported. The metro will run at a speed of 33kmph.
The trial run will continue for three months. The Herald report said that BMRCL may carry out a trial run on the second track by the end of December.
Catch a glimpse of the trial run, which dozens of people turned up to watch:
On Saturday, at 7 pm, a battery-powered train was pushed from the Peenya depot to National College station through the underground corridor, where the work is still going on. It was not possible to run the train on electricity as BMRCL is still in the process of laying tracks, cabling, and fixing the electrical work on the underground stretch between Sampige Road Metro Station and KR Market Station.
The BMRCL will need the approval of the Commissioner of Rail Safety once the trial run is complete.
“Trial run on the other track would be started by December-end, as the parallel underground corridor is not ready. When the trial run is on at the elevated Metro corridor, we will take up pending works elsewhere. At the moment, cabling, tunnel ventilation and signalling work is going on on the underground section” Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director of BMRCL was quoted in the Herald.
The report also states that the National College-Yelachenahalli stretch would not be thrown open for public use unless the underground stretch is ready.
Kharola told the Herald that civil work at the Mysuru Road and Yelachenahalli Metro extensions will be completed by 2018 and the Whitefield line by 2019.
The Minister for Bengaluru Development of Town Planning, KJ George, inspected the National College Metro Station on Sunday.
A footage of the train approaching National college Stn today pic.twitter.com/vY0mS1XFtO
— Namma Metro CPRO (@uavasanthrao) November 20, 2016