Bengaluru: BMRCL which recently completed the work on Reach-4 of Namma Metro will welcome Bengaluru’s Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning K.J. George at the National College metro station on Sunday.
A metro rake will be brought from Mantri Square Sampige road station to R.V. Road station to test the facilities.
The Metro will have its trial runs on National College-Yelachenahalli stretch and it will go on for three months. Trials between Sampige Road station and KR Market station will be initiated soon in the future.
Despite its inability to stick to the November 1 deadline to start operations on the completed Phase I, the BMRCL has reset its priorities and fixed April 2017 as the new deadline to open the complete stretch. The complete stretch is around 42.30 kilometres.
This Metro link and all the infrastructure had remained inactive for over four years as the BMRCL laboured to complete the underground stretch which connects the line with the rest of the network. The work was delayed because of soft soil and rough terrain at some places posed a major challenge to tunnel boring.
Eight stations are situated on the stretch – starting from National College - Lalbagh, South End Circle – Jayanagar – RV Road Station – Banashankari - JP Nagar and ending at Yelachenahalli.
BMRCL has calculated that once entire Phase I is completely operational and carrying passengers, nearly seven lakh commuters will be able to use the line every day. The number is expected to go up to 8-9 lakhs in a few months after commercial operations begin.
