Track Installation Begins for Bangalore Metro’s Whitefield Extension

Workers from Texmaco Rail and Engineering this weekend began track plinth casting works to install tracks (rails) for Bangalore Metro’s 15.257 km Reach 1A & 1B (Baiyyappanahalli – Whitefield) extension of the Purple Line.

Track laying and welding work at the Whitefield-end of the line, part of the 7.218 km Reach 1B, had started this summer, but further activities were put on-hold as Texmaco had been under financial duress for several quarters. This resulted in them subcontracting an unspecified quantum of track work to Salasar Adorus Infra with a contract value of Rs. 252 crore.

Per BMRCL’s latest December 2020 newsletter, no progress has been recorded so far in the 7275 m (3.64 km viaduct) of access that had been handed over for track plinth casting. The next edition will see this number finally going up.

Route of Reach 1B between Sitharama Palya and Whitefield – view Bangalore Metro Phase 2 info & route map

Here’s a snap shot a few hours prior to the beginning of casting work:

The final of of 2125 precast segments for Reach 1B’s viaduct was launched by ITD Cementation in November 2020.

The deadline for this extension of the 73.92 km Phase 2 project was recently revised to June 2022, but I see it opening no sooner than 2023 at this time due to land acquisition hurdles at Benniganahalli (Tin Factory) between Byappanahalli and KR Puram on Reach 1A.

Construction work there resumed in December 2020, but land acquisition is reportedly not 100% complete and key approvals are still pending for cutting around 60 trees south of Benniganahalli Lake. BMRCL has indicated they will start operations without operationalizing Benniganahalli Station, but for that to happen the basic shell (civil structure) of the station must be ready for trains to pass through, which I estimate is another 2 years away.

Stand-alone services on the approx. 12 km KR Puram – Whitefield section cannot begin without the Purple Line’s new Kadugodi Depot, which is similarly another 2 years away from getting ready. Approvals for cutting trees there are reportedly still pending – see some snaps from October with work taking place all around the trees which reminds me of Chinese nail houses.

For more updates on India’s metro systems, check out my Home Page!

– TMRG

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written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

17 Responses to "Track Installation Begins for Bangalore Metro’s Whitefield Extension"

  1. Vivek says:

    Metro in Bangalore is so slow.. pathetic.

    Reply
  2. G P Deshpande says:

    All metro contacts been given to substandard contractors or fraud companies. Looks like money played big role. Most of the companies went bankrupt. Work held up for one year. Kengeri side is most pathetic. 🐌.

    Reply
  3. SHAM says:

    So, is Mumbai metro great? Having built all of 11km in 14 years?

    Reply
  4. Avrf rf says:

    What about Kengeri extension really delayed 😡

    Reply
  5. SHAM says:

    What about Mumbai’s line 2A & line 7? Are they not really delayed? From Dec-19 to Dec-20 to what? Dec-21? If it really gets done by then.
    All metro constructions get delayed for one reason or another, not just kengeri extension.

    Reply
  6. C S Ramakrishnan says:

    Let me know when road will be ashpalted from nayendahalli metro station and RR Nagar gate. Road is in worst condition, difficult in night. No light nothing.

    Reply
  7. C S Ramakrishnan says:

    Let me know when road will be ashpalted from nayendahalli metro station and RR Nagar gate. Road is in worst condition, difficult in night. No light nothing. Does this work is by BBMP or bmrcl. Request concern officers to make visit on this stretch

    Reply
  8. Vinz says:

    Metro work is ridiculously slow in Bangalore! Absolutely appalling the way in which the roads and spoilt and no action being taken by the construction company to make proper alternative arrangements to ease the traffic.

    Reply
  9. Ajay Sharma says:

    What is the expected date for the metro to start working in Whitefield ?

    The structure for the stations seems to be in place , but what’s the point of building this without any sign of operations

    Buildings get old and have problems

    Better to sync closer to date of operations

    Reply
  10. Ashok Kumar says:

    Updates from the pink line.

    1) Service road around Dairy Circle station is been built. Laying of the road from Bosch (Mico) factory towards Dairy circle has started and might be completed by the weekend. Preparatory work on the other side has started.

    2) Soil testing is being carried out inside the military compound for the Langford Town station

    Reply
  11. U says:

    Bengaluru have a network of more than 45km since 2011 opening and Mumbai has 11 km since 2014 and also has locals to move inside the city.But what about Kolkata only 32 I’m since 1984 nor do we have proper locals to move inside the city whatever is there that is in the suburbs.
    So residents of Bengaluru & Mumbai don’t be sad and think about us

    Reply
  12. Hari Puttar says:

    whats the width of the segments/ box girders

    Reply

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