Namma Metro services is now open to the public all the way from Sampige Road station till Nagasandra.
The entire 10-km stretch became operational on Friday afternoon with the commercial launch of the 3.5 km line connecting three more stations, Jalahalli, Dasarahalli and Nagasandra (Reach 3B).
Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the new line, while dedicating it to the industrial workers around the north-west corridor of the City on May Day.
Reach 3B is an extension of the stretch from Sampige to Peenya Industry (Reach 3, 3A). With the completion of this stretch, 16.5 km of the 42-km Namma Metro first phase is now operational. This includes the 6.5 km stretch from Baiyappanahalli to M G Road.
Completion of Phase 1, however, could get delayed by three months. Though BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola had announced the completion of Phase 1 by the end of 2015, Naidu and Siddaramaiah indicated that the deadline could get extended to March 2016.
Kharola said that 4 km of underground tunneling work was pending due to issues with the Tunnel Boring Machine. He said that the BMRCL’s focus was now on Reach 2 between Mysore Road and Magadi Road stretch. “We will be applying for safety trials to be conducted on this stretch by June,” he added.
In his address, marred by a few slogan-shouting demonstrators, Naidu said that the City will have seamless connectivity on Phase 1 by March 2016 and assured BMRCL officials of all financial and infrastructural support.
“Industrial workers and executives working in and around Peenya and Yeshwanthpur, and people living in Rajajinagar and Malleshwaram will benefit from the Metro,” Naidu said.
The demonstrators were angry that BMRCL had not provided toilets at all stations. They were later removed by the police. Kharola later clarified that separate toilets were provided at every station for men, women and the physically challenged.
To make the stretch pedestrian-friendly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had instructed BMRCL and Yeshwanthpur MLA Munirathna to construct three underpasses to connect the service roads on either sides.
“This would not only help Metro commuters but also those who use bus to travel safely on Tumakuru road,” said Siddaramaiah. The chief minister also talked about a proposal to rename Peenya Metro Station as Goraguntepalya station. This is under consideration, he added.