National College-Yelechanahalli stretch: BMRCL keeps Bengaluru guessing
“BMRCL finished the construction of elevated section of National College to Yelachenahalli around 2012. People from Jayanagar and the rest of South Bengaluru were eagerly waiting to be connected to the city through Metro. It took them two more years to begin trial runs, and yet the line isn't ready,” said Mr Narendra Kumar, a member of the Nagarika Shakti, a citizen group.
“Why did it take them two whole years to bring a train on the track? The same is the case with the Mantri Mall-Majestic stretch. The tunnel boring machine broke through in November 2015, and BMRCL had promised to begin commercial operations by April 2017, yet this has not happened," he said.
Citizens like Narendra are eagerly waiting for the North-South corridor of Phase 1 to be connected. Even while the entire section may not be ready, citizen groups point out that running of individual sections will be of great help to them.
Experts seem to agree. “BMRCL started the Magadi Road-Nayanandanahalli stretch even before the underground section of MG Road-Magadi Road was ready. Six months later, when the UG section was done, they connected it with the operational bit," said Mr Sanjeev Dyamnavar, an expert from the Advocacy group Praaja RAAG, citing an example of individual sections running.
“We expected the same to happen with the South Bengaluru stretch. That line is very long, extending till Kanakapura. BMRCL should have ideally begun the National College- Yelachenahalli section since it is ready," he said.
BMRCL Public Relations Officer Vasanth Rao clarified that the National College- Yelachenahalli stretch is still not ready. “Trials started last year, but they are still going on. There are other trial-related works in progress. The testing is expected to happen on April 20. The safety commissioner is yet to visit, conduct tests and certify it," he said.
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Kharola said, “For the National College-Yelachenahalli stretch, high-speed trials are going on. We are going in for full phase 1 commercial operations and will not begin individual sections.”
The department earlier faced flak from the public for not completing lines on time. Now, however, they seem to be ready in some sections but are keeping commuters guessing.
