[Pics] Inside Bangalore Metro’s Purple Line Tunnels

Here are some brand new images from inside different parts of Bangalore Metro’s 4.8 km MG Road – Magadi Road section while I continue to await for the safety inspection dates to be announced & subsequent inspection by the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to be carried out. Tunneling work for this section under contract UG-2 was awarded to the CEC-SOMA-CICI JV in March 2010 and got completed in March 2014. Following that, trial runs began (see images) in November 2015.

Purple line's underground section - view Bangalore Metro map and information

Purple line’s underground section – view Bangalore Metro map and information

The 5 underground stations on this section include Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Sir. M Visveshwaraya, Majestic (under construction by Coastal-GYT JV) and Bangalore City railway station.

B5

Photo Copyright: New Indian Express

B1

Photo Copyright: Sunil Hakkalappanavar

B2

Photo Copyright: Sadashiv Viraktamath

B3

Photo Copyright: “Partheeban Sivalingam

B4

Sir. M Visveshwaraya station? – Photo Copyright: Sadashiv Viraktamath

B6

Photo Copyright: The Hindu

Recently, the BMRCL’s MD took K.J. George, Karnataka’s Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning, and an entourage of media personnel on a tour of the underground stations. 10+ brilliant images from it can be seen here: [Pics] Bangalore Metro’s Underground Section Nearing Completion.

For more updates on the Bangalore metro, check out the Bangalore section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

21 Responses to "[Pics] Inside Bangalore Metro’s Purple Line Tunnels"

  1. Prateek says:

    Hi, the pictures are the same as you posted some 10 days ago. Is it finally going to be thrown open for commercial operations by April 14? Waiting for your kind reply, thank you! =D

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi, these images are more recent than the other ones. Start date depends on when the CMRS’ inspection is carried out, approval (+suggestions) are given and finally the availability of ministers for attending the event.

      Reply
      • Muthu says:

        Any idea what is holding up the inspections?

        Reply
        • TMRG says:

          BMRCL officials are being extremely unresponsive about the inspections’ dates.

          In the meanwhile, they’re taking this time to wrap up work at Majestic which has a long way to go before opening. I would not be surprised if any further “delay” is attributed to the CMRS inspection.

          Reply
          • Muthu says:

            I don’t understand why they can’t commit to a realistic deadline. The deadlines seem to be a floating date with no real meaning to it. People are sick and tired of believing these dates. Apr 14 I am sure is impossible. It seems like Jun 14 is more realistic now! If CMRS comes back with some changes, then it sure is going to take at least a month or 2 more!

  2. Sridhar says:

    Hello TMRG

    Thanks for all the updates on Bangalore Metro.

    Living in the Heart of Bangalore’s Majestic area is close to Living in Hell. This highly populated and polluted area is also very congested with narrow lanes and bylanes. Getting In or out of This place is very difficult.

    Waiting anxiously for Metro to start operations from Majestic… but from the outside, the Majestic Metro Station looks like it still has a long way to go for completion… The Structure looks incomplete and there is too much dust around the station…

    I think it may another 1 or 2 months for the construction work to complete….

    I love your Posts…. Please keep us updated about the Progress… Thanks a lot…

    Sridhar D.V.

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Thanks for your message, Sridhar. I understand your frustration and agree that there’s a long way to go for Majestic to actually be ready. I’ll post an update whenever the CMRS inspection dates are announced – hopefully soon. In the meanwhile, check out metro news from other cities!

      Reply
      • vijay says:

        talking about dust, one has to pass through AS Char to believe what life in hell could be. Every day, my scooter parked atleast 300 mtrs away from the site, for just two hours, ends up with a thick layer of dust. Imagine how much of the dust goes within us. I doubt that any health / safety concerns are taken care of there.

        Reply
  3. Jayasuryan says:

    Hello,

    I am new to bangalore, wanted to know if there is any update on the metro line towards electronic city which was part of the phase 2 plan. Has this line been initiated and what in your opinion is a realistic timeline for the link to be up and functional?

    Thanks
    Jay

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi, the BMRCL is currently acquiring land along the RV Road – Bommasandra route which includes stops at Electronic City. They’ve planned to invite tenders (bids) for its construction within the next 3-4 months and I’m expecting the contract to only be given in early 2017. If no major issues arise during construction, then this line would be fully functional by 2022.

      Reply
  4. Sridhar says:

    Thanks a lot… Your website is very informative. I never knew that so many smaller cities in India are going to get Metro Service….. It’s a pleasure up be a follower of TMRG..

    Sridhar

    Reply
  5. Srikanth says:

    thanks for updates. Any news on green line? whats the status on KR Market station? I live near National College station, the station was completed some 3-4 years ago and yet to see light.. :/

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      As of April 4, the Green Line’s tunnels between Chickpet and Majestic have another 294m and 121.5m to go. I expect tunnel works to be finished only by August. Once that is done, they will take 3-5 months for track-work, electrification, signalling work etc. Now *IF* BMRCL decides to run services just on the National College – Puttenahali route, then I expect it to only open in early 2017.

      KR Market station is under construction. The contractor is covering up the station’s platforms and TBM shafts right now. Underground section will only open up in mid-2017.

      Reply
  6. Prashanth says:

    Hello TMRG,

    I have been reading your updates every month , many thanks to provide info on regular basis.

    I would like to know the status of Gottigere to Nagawara line , when will the construction start ?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi Prashanth, thanks for your message – glad you like the updates! Construction work on Gottigere to Nagawara line will only start in mid 2017. Notifications for land acquisition from Gottigere to Dairy Circle and for the Kothanur Depot were recently published in the Karnataka Gazette. Once land acquisition nears completion, BMRCL will invite demolition tenders (bids) and then construction bids. The bidding process can take 6-9 months to end, so I expect construction contracts to be given only by mid 2017.

      Reply
  7. HEMENDRA says:

    Thanks for updates&pictures.our residence is near Intel gate on outer ring road.which will be closest metro station for us in phase 2

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi, are you referring to the one in Belandur? If so, the Silk Board station of the upcoming RV Road – Bommasandra will be the closest one.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply to Muthu Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *