BANGALORE: Namma Metro reached another milestone on Sunday completing three years since its launch in October 2011.
However, it might be another year before the city sees the completion of phase 1 as the current plan has set 2015 as the deadline for operations to begin.
For three years, several people have put up with issues like poor quality roads, line re-alignments and extended deadlines as officials hurry to complete a transport project which promises to greatly reduce Bangalore’s traffic nightmares.
The Union Cabinet in January this year approved phase 2 of the metro which involves a distance of 72 kilometre of metro lines.
Close on the heels of the approval, BMRCL began operations between Peenya Industrial Area and Sampige Road stations on Reach 3. However, without the central connectivity to Majestic Station, response has been lukewarm.
“Traffic will reduce greatly with the completion of phase 1. There have been some delays and the tunnel boring machine also got stuck. We are however very confident of finishing phase 1 in 2015,” Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told Express.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently set a 300-day deadline for completion of all underground work.
This would ensure BMRCL can begin operations by December next year. However for people waiting to use the Metro to commute daily, it means another year of waiting.
“I have been using the Metro for the past three months as I stay near the CMH Road station and it is very easy for me to commute. It would be great if I could reach all parts of the city using the Metro itself. Hopefully, it will be completed by next year,” said Arvind T, an HR professional.