Bangalore Mirror | Kanakapura Metro line gets safety green signal

Nov 25,2020

The 5.52-km stretch along Kanakapura Road is an extension of the Green Line Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety okays opening up of line to public after some work, BMRCL likely to do so in 15 days. 

Just three days after the safety inspection, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has received a green signal from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for operating the 6.52-km Metro line along the Kanakapura Road after attending to “some minor tasks”. The BMRCL, however, has no plan to immediately throw open the line. Officials say the new section would be thrown open for commercial operations in 15 days.

Multiple sources in BMRCL confirmed that a conditional approval has been given by AK Rai, Commissioner of Railway safety (Southern and South Eastern Circle), on Monday evening. The three-page letter comprises conditions that are minor in nature, officials said.

Although the quick approval is a shot in the arm for the BMRCL, which already has the experience of building and operating the 42-km Phase I Metro project including the underground section, the officials have been tight-lipped about the approval as they are waiting for the inauguration date from the office of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

“We have to complete a few tasks and report back to the CMRS on the compliance,” a top BMRCL official said. “The section should be ready for commercial run in about 15 days,” the officer said.

We have to complete a few tasks and report to the CMRS. It should be ready for commercial run in around 15 days

–A BMRCL official
Officials are waiting for the date to be given by Chief Minister and the Union Minister as the stretch is the first section of the 73-km Phase II project to be ready for inauguration. The stretch, which is an extension of the Green Line from Yelachenahalli to Anjanapura comprises five elevated stations such as Konanakunte Cross, Doddakallasandra, Vajrahalli, Thalaghattapura and Anjapura. All these stations are ready except for some
finishing and landscaping work.

Once the section becomes operational, the Green Line will emerge as the longest stretch of the Metro in the City, stretching up to 30.5 km with 29 stations between Nagasandra to Anjanapura. The next section to be thrown open will be the extension of the Purple line from Nayandahalli to Challaghatta. Officials have set March as their target to complete the project.

Last month, the BMRCL had invited bids for the construction of a new depot at Anjanapura. Till this depot is ready, the BMRCL plans to use the Peenya depot to power the new section. Currently, the BMRCL is not operating train services to its full capacity due to poor patronage.