CMRS to Inspect Bangalore Metro’s Madavara Extension on October 3-4
The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) on October 3 & 4 will perform the final statutory safety inspection for Bangalore Metro Green Line’s 3.031 km Reach 3C connecting Nagasandra – Madavara.
Reach 3C is the smallest elevated extension of the 73.92 km Bangalore Metro Phase 2 project. It comprises of 3 new elevated stations on Tumkur Road at Manjunathnagar, Chikkabidarakallu (formerly Jindal) and Madavara (formerly BIEC). Trial runs (train testing) on it had started in mid-August 2024.
The CMRS’ inspection dates were conveyed in a letter by the Southern Railways’ Deputy Commissioner of Railway Safety/Tech to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL):
Reach 3C at 3.03 km is quite short, and looking at CMRS inspections conducted in the past all over the country I’m surprised they’ve allocated 2 days to inspect it.
Anyhow, in the 2-day inspection the CMRS and its team will visually inspect the line’s elevated viaduct, tracks and all features of its 3 stations such as PA system, signage, safety features, drinking water facilities, station access and control room. The inspection will end with a speed trial in which the inspection train will clock upward of 80 kmph.
As shared in the past, Reach 3C is the most troubled section of the entire Phase 2 project. BMRCL had awarded its Rs. 298.65 crore civil construction contract to Simplex Infrastructure way back in February 2017 with a 27 month deadline. Its signaling & electrification systems were installed by Alstom Transport, while its track system was installed by Texmaco Rail & Engineering.
While Manjunathnagar and Chikkabidarakallu stations have long been ready, Madavara Station’s architectural finishing work was off to a late start due to a delay in civil work. A drive-by video of it published 3 weeks ago can be viewed here on YouTube, and I can’t help but notice its tacky color scheme.
BMRCL hasn’t publicly announced a plan or deadline for operationalizing this section, but it should happen shortly. The exact launch date broadly depends on how quickly the line is certified fit by the CMRS (approvals are always conditional), how quickly BMRCL rectifies deficiencies, and finally the availability of local ministers who’d want to present for the launch event.
When operationalized, Bangalore Metro’s network will become approximately 75.2 km strong with the Green Line becoming 33 km long connecting Madavara – Silk Institute with 32 stations.
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– TMRG
After this is open then Bangalore’s first 2 lines will both be fully open now that the purple line’s missing link was opened last year. In a way, phase 1 is finally coming close to being done.
Any update on CMRS inspection of Mumbai Metro Line 3?
This is probably a stupid question. Its regarding the Pink Line. Is there a way that some of the trains from CRRC/Titagarh can be used on the Pink line, thus allowing it to be opened before the trains from BEML arrive. They both use CBTC signalling, the dimensions and power supply is the same. While this would mean poor service on both the Yellow line and the Pink Line for about a year, it will mean that segment from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarkere can be opened.