President to Inaugurate Last Leg of Bangalore Metro’s PH1 on June 17

We have a date!

After receiving a confirmation from President Pranab Mukherjee’s office, a letter by the principal secretary to Karnataka’s Chief Minister has confirmed that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) will inaugurate its 12 km Sampige Road – Yelachenahalli section of the Green Line on June 17 (Saturday) between 6 – 7 pm.

A detailed programme has not been released yet, but the launch event, which will mark the completion of the 42.30 km Phase 1 project, is likely to take place either at the Vidhana Soudha or National College’s grounds. BMRCL usually starts commercial operations a day later, and is likely to open its doors to locals either on or after June 18 depending on the completion of finishing works at Chickpet & KR Market stations to comply with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety’s suggestions.

Trial runs on this section were first launched on the 8 km elevated Reach-4/4A between National College and Yelachenahalli in November 2016, and then extended northward through the 4 km underground UG-1 section between Sampige Road and National College in March 2017. A team from the Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO) conducted speed trials in early May which was followed by a certification of the line’s signalling system by an Independent Safety Assessor. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) conducted a final safety inspection over 4 days (May 29June 1) and is expected to certify the line fit for operations by the end of this week.

This last section of Phase 1 will add 12 kms to the operational network with new platforms at Kempegowda Majestic Station and 10 new stations at Chickpet, KR Market, National College, Lalbagh, South End Circle, Jayanagar, RV Road, Banashankari, JP Nagar, Yelachenahalli (erst. Puttenahalli):

Pending 12 km section of the Green Line – view Bangalore Metro map & information

Photo Source: kannada.oneindia.com

Phase 1’s construction commenced in April 2007 and was originally slated to be completed in December 2011. Here’s a quick timeline of when each stage opened up (here’s a map if needed):

• 20 Oct 2011: Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road (Reach-1, Purple line) – 6.7 km
• 01 Mar 2014: Sampige Road – Peenya Industry (Reach-3/3A, Green line) – 9.9 km
• 01 May 2015: Peenya Industry – Nagasandra (Reach-3B, Green line) – 2.5 km
• 16 Nov 2015: Mysore Road – Magadi Road (Reach-2, Purple line) – 6.4 km
• 30 Apr 2016: MG Road – Magadi Road (UG-2, Purple line) – 4.8 km
• XX June 2017: Sampige Road – Yelachenahalli (UG-1, Reach-4/4A, Green line) – 12 km

XX = yet to be announced

Once inaugurated, the Green Line will become 24.20 km long and finally be connected to the Purple Line at Majestic Station. BMRCL plans to deploy 27 of its 50 3-coach BEML trains on the entire line and initially run them at a frequency of 6 minutes through 24 stations. From its existing average ridership of 1.75 lakh/day on 2 fragmented segments, it hopes to see an average ridership of 4-5 lakhs/day from the onset.

On a side note, Kochi Metro’s 1st 13 km stretch will also be inaugurated on June 17, so India will add 25 km of new metro lines on that June 17-18 weekend on top of its existing 338 km figure.

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

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

28 Responses to "President to Inaugurate Last Leg of Bangalore Metro’s PH1 on June 17"

  1. Swaroop says:

    Also, India’s largest metro station would become (fully) functional !

    Reply
  2. BS Rahul says:

    TMRG, hats off buddy. Newspapers are citing “sources” but you’ve posted a letter straight from the horse’s mouth! It’s time to celebrate now.

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Thanks to you and everyone below. It’s messages like these which keep me going 🙂

      Enjoy the new network!

      Reply
  3. sampat nayak says:

    Hi TMRG,

    I completely agree with Rahul. You are doing the great work. Hats off to you.

    Thanks

    Reply
  4. Shashidharv says:

    At last , after a delay of 6 years BMRCL phase 1 will be complete.

    TMRG you are doing a great of providing information about BMRCL and other Metro Projects in India

    Reply
  5. aneesh says:

    Awesome work TMRG…. But weren’t there any questions from the CMRS for not completing the pending works in different station… is that over or still pending? Will this go on even after the inauguration?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Still pending.

      Despite the MD’s assurances of meeting all requirements in “2 days”, pending work at the UG section is likely to go on until the last quarter and perhaps even into 2018. Prior to that they’ll get all critical issues resolved to launch the line.

      Reply
  6. Goldie says:

    Very informative inputs..

    Reply
  7. sriharsha says:

    Now they will have to add phase 2 in phases and not wait till 2022 to start operations. Since there will be only 1 UG section in phase2, the chances of delay is less.

    Reply
  8. KK says:

    I think India can commission more than 25kms of metro tracks on 17th June.
    As I understand, after following TMRG’s posts, certain segments of Hyderabad & Lucknow metro are ready (almost) to be opened.

    It would indeed be a great display of exhibit to open four metro train lines in four different cities of the country on the same day..

    ..seems possible…TMRG?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      L&T and TS govt can open 2 stretches (8 km, 12 km) in Hyderabad at any time of their choice. The lines have been tested, approved and ready for operations. Unfortunately commercial revenue for them is more important than the social and economic benefits the city will receive.

      Lucknow Metro’s 8.5 km 1st stretch just got ready, but the CMRS’ inspection is pending. Hopefully soon!

      Reply
  9. M.LAKSHMI KANTA says:

    Hope work on New line no 5 from RV Road and Bommasandra where tenders were awarded will start immediately. Thanks TMRG

    Reply
    • Serene says:

      Still land acquisition is pending i guess from RV road to silk board post that demolition. I think post that work would start from RV road to silk board.

      Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Followers have spotted barricades near White Feather (where NICE’s Peripheral Road and NH-7 meet). I’ve seen a letter from Infosys’ HR informing employees of work starting in their neck of the woods.

      Reply
  10. Santhosh says:

    Thanks for all the realistic news and updates with proofs…. We have a trustworthy and reliable source of Metro news in the form of you….. Finally one part of the most awaited infrastructure project of Bangaloreans is getting inaugurated….. Even with delays and false promises, I am happy that BMRCL completed it by June by working hard in the final days after final TBM came out. Hopefully they try to stick to their deadlines in Phase 2.

    Reply
  11. KRISHNAN says:

    BMRC told to finish civil works at two stations (safety certificate only by the end of this week.)
    ———————————————————

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bmrc-told-to-finish-civil-works-at-two-stations/articleshow/59048199.cms

    Reply
  12. Parthasarathy S says:

    Ah! finally….

    Whatever the hurdles, BMRC did it and for once, all credit to them (and the contractors). I’m sure they had to go through innumerable number of challenges to complete the project.

    Reply
  13. KRISHNAN says:

    Bangalore North South Metro Corridor will inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee
    ————————————————————————————————–

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4jaPUmBsp4

    Reply
  14. Swati Sehgal says:

    Thanks to TMRG for giving us full updates and link of Namma Metro Phase I. It is an excellent news for us.

    Reply
  15. Rahul says:

    for bangalore metro, why is the demolition work tender always given to M/s B R Chawla??

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Good observation! Perhaps because they placed the lowest bid? Demolition tenders are straight-forward with only 1 round of financial bidding.

      Such miscellaneous work doesn’t have many eyes on it (esp the lender’s), so there are higher chances of corruption here. I’m not suggesting that’s the case here, but you never know what transpires behind the scenes.

      Reply
  16. Madhushekar says:

    TMRG wonderful work by you guys. Just amazing . Its a matter of pride for all blorians that Namma metro will be fully operational. Being a Software architect and worked on multiple IT projects around the world I have lot of patience for delays and am sympathetic to BMRCL. The completion of IT projects within timeline budget and schedule around the world is abmysal. Who are we to complain on the Infra projects and that complicated as Namma Metro. Iam proud of my City and what they have done. I will be returning to Blore in 2019 and hoping to use Metro for all my transport.

    Reply
  17. Raj Hiremath says:

    really shame on metro it took for more than 10 years for completion the project even lot of work are pending.
    nacheke ellava nimege

    Reply
  18. G Gopi says:

    Job

    Reply

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