Bengaluru: Kengeri Metro operations likely from July

BENGALURU: If everything goes according to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited ’s (BMRCL) plan, metro operations on the Mysuru Road-Kengeri section will commence by July this year.
Speaking to TOI after inspection of Kengeri station on Thursday, BMRCL managing director Rakesh Singh said: “We are expecting the commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) to inspect this section by the third week of July. Civil work is behind schedule by 20-25 days due to the pandemic but will be completed by next month. Commercial operations will begin from July.”
In April, trial runs started on the section. BMRCL is planning to complete all civil work by June 20, following which the CMRS inspection is likely to happen. Once it gets the CMRS nod, BMRCL will be able to commence commercial operations.
The 7.3km section which was supposed to be completed by December 2018 missed several deadlines, including March 2019, November 2019, October 2020, February 2021, April 2021 and June 2021.
The extension of the Purple Line will have six stations at Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnanabharathi, Pattanagere, Kengeri Bus Terminal and Kengeri. The Challaghatta station, which lies across NICE Road, is likely to be operational only in 2023.
“The civil and system works are nearing completion for station building and viaduct,” said a release from BMRCL.
“Parking facility is provided at Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnanabharathi and two-level parking at Kengeri Bus Terminal, with bus bay on both sides of the station,” it added.
“All stations will have a road-crossing facility for the public, except Kengeri bus terminal station which is located off road. Construction of FOB connecting to the adjacent BMTC bus depot will be taken up later,” it said.
“This will be the first section of BMRCL to have an AFC system compatible with NCMC and QR code. The maximum fare for travelling from Byappanahalli to Kengeri would be Rs 56 and Kengeri to Silk Institute, which is the longest stretch, would be Rs 60,” the release added.