BENGALURU: Union minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Sadananda Gowda assured citizens on Monday that Metro Phase 1 will be completed as scheduled by April 2017. However, in reality, all odds seem to be against it.
Chickpet and KR Market Stations are nowhere near completion as the underground stretch remains a hurdle. Besides, pending RCC and interior finishing works will consume time. Thus, meeting the deadline seems unlikely.
A BMRCL official said, “Civil works are currently under way at the underground stations.
There are some cabling works as well that have to be taken up. However, all electrical and telecommunication systems are already in the process of being installed and tracks have been laid. Trial runs should start after February 15.”
However, experts say it is impossible for Metro Phase 1 to be fully functional by April 2017.
Transport expert M N Sreehari says, “Even if we assume that they start trials by mid-February, the various tests require at least three months and then clearance from Metro Commission of Railway Safety takes another month. In the process of trials, they will come across many technical issues which will require time to be fixed. The testing has to be done innumerable times to ensure safety of the passengers.”
It is not only the North-South underground corridor that has been witnessing delays. Even the East-West underground corridor was delayed multiple times. The work on underground tunnelling from Cubbon Park to City Railway station was initiated in June 2011 and went through many ups and downs. BMRCL has missed many deadlines in opening this particular stretch. Initially, it was scheduled to be open to public by December 2015, then on January 2016, followed by February 2016, March 2016 and finally it was opened on April 29, 2016. The story is the same for the north-south underground stretch.
BMRCL started construction of the 42-km Phase 1 in 2006 and it was expected to be completed by December 2012. While the project was estimated to cost Rs 5,400 crore in 2006, the cost has now tripled and stands at an estimated Rs 13,845 crore.
It will be interesting to see if the authorities will be able to meet April 2017 deadline and Bengaluru will finally witness Phase 1 completely ready for commercial purpose, mobility experts say.