At Least 3 Metro Rail Lines to Open This Year.

After being bogged down by several delays, the Metro Rail project will finally open many routes to the public this year. The first in line is Phase 3b, on which commercial operations will begin by February-end, according to BMRCL deputy chief engineer K R Shivananda.

'The trial runs on Phase 3b from Jalahalli to Nagasandra, have already started,' Shivananda said during a lecture organised by the Institute of Engineers. He said several other routes are expected to be ready by the end of 2015. 'The east-west corridor will start operations by December with trial runs set to begin in September. The Magadi-Nayandahalli route will be opened in June, with trial runs beginning in March,' he said.

On the challenges faced during Metro work, Shivananda said the biggest issues were during the underground phase. 'We have seven underground stations and in many areas, sink holes and huge boulders are blocking the way,' he said.

He also said one of the reasons for the slow progress of works is land acquisition. 'At present, property rates are very high and building car parking spaces at every station is not feasible,' he said.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS