BENGALURU: After a delay of nearly five years and three months, the first train with commuters will depart from Madavara at 5 am on Thursday.
Following public pressure, the State government has decided to open the line for operations ahead of the formal inauguration, which will take place later.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) claims that the 3.14-km extension will benefit an additional 44,000 passengers.
The Rs 1,168-crore Nagasandra-Madavara line will expand the Metro's overall operational network to 76.95 km. With the addition of the three new stations at Manjunatha Nagar and Madavara (BIEC), the Green Line (North-South corridor) will now have 31 stations and stretch to 33.46 km. The Purple Line (East-West corridor) will feature 38 stations across its 43.49-km network.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar took a ride on the new 3.14-km extension from Nagasandra to Madavara (Reach-3 extension), boarding a train at Yeshwanthpur Metro station around 1 pm. He was accompanied by MP Tejasvi Surya, Nelamangala MLA Srinivasaiah, and Dasarahalli MLA Muniraju.
Speaking to the press later, Shivakumar revealed that Bengaluru's Metro network will reach 175 km by 2026. “A total of 30 km of new Metro lines will be added by 2025,” he stated.
The R V Road-Bommasandra line (Reach-5) is expected to open at the beginning of next year, and the elevated portion of the Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara line (Reach-6) will open by the end of 2025, according to a senior Metro official.
“We do not want to delay this Metro service for the public. We will open it tomorrow (Thursday). We will invite all the MPs and other representatives and officially inaugurate it at a later date,” Shivakumar said.
For those entering the city via Tumakuru Road, ample parking space will be available at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, allowing commuters to park their vehicles and board the Metro to bypass traffic, added the Deputy CM.
Shivakumar also outlined several new facilities for Metro commuters along the stretch. “A pedestrian skywalk will be built at Manjunathanagar Metro station. An agreement has been entered into with Indian Railways to build a pedestrian bridge connecting Yesvantpur Metro and railway stations,” he said.
Additionally, a report has been prepared to develop an underpass at Chikkabidarakallu in partnership with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). “We are also in talks with NHAI to build an underpass at Madavara Metro station,” he added.
Shivakumar further stated that a sum of Rs 1,130 crore has been allocated for acquiring new train sets for Bengaluru Metro.
