Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who was supposed to inspect the ongoing metro works, which is scheduled to be launched by President Pranab Mukharjee on June 17, was in a hurry and avoided the media.
Though arrangements were made for the chief minister to address the media after inspection, he skipped the event. It was rumoured that he and his party were embarrassed after losing the no-confidence motion against chairman of legislative council D.H. Shankaramurthy on Thursday.
Around 5.30 pm his convoy reached Kempegowda Station from where the inspection was set to commence. Mr Siddaramaiah along with his Congress ministers and Metro officials boarded the Green line metro at Kempegowda Station.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah getting a first hand experience of the Metro line between Nagasandra and Yelachenahalli on Thursday. The Phase 1 of Namma Metro will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday (Photo: DC)
The train left Kempegowda Station around 5.45pm and after passing through Chickpet, K.R. Market, National College, Lalbagh, South End Circle and Jayanagar it reached R.V. Road station. From R V Road the train returned to Kempegowda Station.
Mr Siddaramaiah then had some discussion with the metro officials at a closed meeting hall and left. BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola said preparations are on in full swing for the inauguration by President Pranab Mukherjee.
On being asked why chief minister did not address the media as per the schedule, Kharola maintained, “CM has inspected and has given his feedback to us.”
When asked about ticket fares, Kharola maintained that it was yet to be decided.While officials said that metro will open for public on June 18, there was no clarity on the exact timing of commencement of metro services for public.
- Around 5.30 pm Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reached Kempegowda Station and boarded a Green Line train.
- The train left Kempegowda Station around 5.45pm for R.V. Road and returned. Siddaramaiah skips press meet
- BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola said the ticket fares for the new route is yet to be decided.
- While metro will open for public on June 18, there is no clarity on the exact timing of commencement of metro services
Metro services to be hit
With the inauguration of the Green Line scheduled for Friday June 16, metro services will not function from Rajajinagar to Mantri Square Sampige Road till Saturday. “The services are suspended for two days in the light of the arrangements that has to be done in the tunnel section for the commissioning of the North-South metro line,” the BMRCL said. However, trains will run along the Rajajinagar - Nagasandra route. Also, regular feeder bus services will ply the Rajajinagar to Majestic route for the convenience of the commuters.
