BENGALURU: The issue of mobile network connectivity vanishing as soon as one steps into an underground Metro station will soon be a thing of the past. A month ago, only the Sir M Visvesvaraya underground station was provided with network connectivity. Within a week, two more stations are set to get connected.
The entire Metro corridor will have mobile network connectivity in about two months.
The 4.8-km underground corridor of the Purple Line runs from Cubbon Park to City Railway station and comprises five Metro stations. It was opened for commercial operations on April 30, 2016.
Speaking to Express, A S Shankar, Chief Engineer, Signalling and Telecommunications, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) said, “We provided 4G mobile connectivity at Central College station through Reliance Jio a month ago.
The Vidhana Soudha (Dr B R Ambedkar) station and Cubbon Park Metro stations will also be provided connectivity by the same service provider by this weekend.”
The connectivity has been provided only at the three Metro stations and not along the underground corridor of these stations where the trains run.
“Infrastructure is presently being laid during nights along the tunnel so that connectivity can be provided along the corridor too,” Shankar added. American Tower Corporation (ATC) has been entrusted the contract of providing infrastructure at all the five underground Metro stations.
“Both Kempe Gowda and City railway Metro stations will have the infrastructure in place in 10-15 days. ATC is yet to tie up with a service provider for these two stations,” Shankar added.
He assured that the commuters will be able to enjoy mobile networks along the entire underground corridor before Phase-I of Metro commences full operations. BMRCL is racing to meet the April deadline for Phase-I.