6-car Metro by Dec, one coach for women soon, says George

Urban Development Minister K J George said there are plans to increase the number of Namma Metro coaches from three to six. With the increase in the number of coaches, a separate coach would be reserved for women in the coming days, he added.

Replying to questions by S Shadakshari (Cong), the minister said the work order was issued to BEML in March itself to supply 150 coaches. By December, six coaches would be available for each Metro train, he added.

To a query by Dr Sudhakar (Cong) on whether the Metro line would be extended to the airport at Devanahalli, George said the lines have been finalised and a detailed project report was getting ready. The Metro would run underground between MG Road and Nagawara. Later, the line would run via Jakkur and Jala before reaching the airport, he added.

To a question by S Suresh Kumar (BJP) about when the North-South corridor work would be completed, the minister said construction work has been completed. The Railway Safety Inspection wing would submit its report in a couple of days. Later, the line would be inaugurated, he said.

Dr Rafeeq Ahmed (Cong) of Tumakuru asked whether there were plans to extend the line to Nelamangala from Peenya. This would help those who commute daily from Tumakuru to Bengaluru, he pointed out. The minister said there are plans to extended the line till the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on Tumakuru Road under Metro II phase. A link to Nelamangala is also being contemplated. A suburban Metro train facility could be created to link Nelamangala with Tumakuru, he said.

Water treatment
Minister George said Bengaluru city generates nearly 1,400 million litres of sewage water. BWSSB has set up 15 sewage treatment plants. Nine more would be set up before the end of 2018.

Replying to BJP’s Vijayakumar in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the minister said a large quantity of sewage water is being treated. Under the Mega City plan, an STP near Halasuru lake to treat two MLD of sewage and another STP of 60 MLD capacity on the Bangalore University premises, are being considered.
DH News Service