BENGALURU: The Namma Metro network in the city is set to expand to a total length of 77 km within the next few weeks with the 3.1-km extension of the Green Line on Tumakuru Road expected to commence operations this month.
Currently, the Metro network spans 73.81 km, connecting Challaghatta to Whitefield (Purple Line) and Silk Institute to Nagasandra (Green Line).
On Thursday, A M Choudhary, commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) of the southern circle, along with his team, conducted a statutory safety inspection of the extended Green Line from Nagasandra to Madavara. To accommodate the inspection, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) temporarily suspended Metro services between Peenya Industry and Nagasandra for four hours.
Chief PRO B L Yeshwanth Chavan said, “The Line will be opened for services after receiving safety authorisation from CMRS. After getting the green signal, we will do the operational study on running trains on the extended Line.”
The newly constructed 3.14 km Metro line has three stations: Manjunathanagar, Chikkabidarakallu, and Madavara, situated near the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC). The opening of this Line is anticipated to attract an additional 25,000-30,000 passengers on a daily basis. The official mentioned that the decision to run alternate trains from Nagasandra to Madavara will be finalised, following the operational study, similar to the approach taken, when the Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute section of the Green Line was inaugurated.
Despite missing several deadlines in the past, the completion of this small stretch on Tumakuru Road marks the operationalisation of all extended Metro line projects undertaken in phase II.
Meanwhile, BMRCL is considering the opening of the Yellow Line Metro from R V Road to Bommasandra in early 2025. However, the 19-km line has faced significant delays due to the shortage of coaches.
