7.5km Pink Line takes Metro network in Bengaluru beyond 100km

Bengaluru: Weeks after turning 15, Bangalore Metro is set to cross the century mark on operational track length with the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) giving the final safety authorisation for passenger services on the 7.5-km elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere on its Pink Line.Chief minister DK Shivakumar indicated on Wednesday that PM Modi is likely to inaugurate the line on Nov 15. Initially, BMRCL plans to operate trains at six-minute intervals during peak hours and 10-minute intervals during non-peak hours.The mid-November inauguration will mark another milestone for Namma Metro, whose network currently spans 96 km across Purple, Green and Yellow lines.The Pink Line, spanning 21km from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, includes an underground stretch from Dairy Circle to Nagawara. BMRCL plans trial runs on the underground stretch by Nov and the section may open next year.Construction of the elevated section began in 2017, but the project suffered delays for several reasons, including BMRCL terminating the contract with the contractor over alleged failure to meet obligations.CMRS (Southern Circle) V Venkatasubramanian and his team inspected the line between Oct 6 and 8. A senior BMRCL official said they had submitted compliance reports addressing issues raised by CMRS.Welcoming the CMRS’s clearance, Greater Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said they were eagerly looking forward to inaugurating the elevated Pink Line and taking another step towards serving people better by expanding the Namma Metro network.There has been growing public demand for BMRCL to open completed Metro stretches as soon as they receive clearances rather than wait for VIP inaugurations. In the past, citizens have symbolically ‘inaugurated’ completed stretches to protest delays in opening the line. In the past, there were instances of BMRCL opening some sections of Namma Metro without waiting for formal inaugurations following public pressure.Since its operations began in 2011, Namma Metro has expanded in phases, with more than 10 events held to open new stretches..You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in BengaluruStay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.