Metro will keep date with Ugadi, says BMRCL

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is confident of meeting the April 4 target for kickstarting commercial operations on Reach-1 (Baiyapanahalli-MG Road) of Phase-I of the Namma Metro project.

The trial runs are progressing well with desired results, leading BMRCL to believe that the target set by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa –– Ugadi –– can be met.

With just days before the deadline for commercial operations, BMRCL on Wednesday last week, put the Metro coaches to a full-load test on the ‘down track’.

Sources in BMRCL told Deccan Herald that the train was tested for its ability to carry the expected load and that sand bags were used instead of people. The three cars to be operated first, according to BMRCL, can carry about 1,000 people.

The test was conducted at different speeds to check the response of the track as well as coaches to the speed and load. The trial tests on the ‘up track’ is expected to be taken up from Monday.

Reach update

Work on Reach 1, barring the Plaza station, is almost through. Progress is evident on the other reaches too.

On Reach 2 (Magadi Road to Mysore Road)

Work on as many as 1,004 piles out of 1,104 have been completed. A total of 117 out of the 241 piers and 880 out of the 2,106 segments have been casted. About 94 per cent of foundation work at all the stations on the reach has been completed.

On Reach 3 (Swastik to Yeshwanthpur)

A total of 823 piles out of 961 are complete, 127 piers of the total 205 are cast and 39 segments have been launched. About 44.5 per cent of the work is complete on Kuvempu Road, Rajajinagar and Malleswaram stations, while 43.5 per cent of the work is over on the Yeshwanthpur, Mahalakshmi and Soap factory stations.

Reach-3A (Yeshwanthpur to Peenya depot)

Work on this reach has also gathered significant pace, with 378 piles out of 944 complete and casting of 284 segments out of 1,280 done.

Reach-3B (Peenya Village Station to Hesaraghatta Cross Station)

Seven test piles have been completed.

Reach-4 (K R Market to R V Road)

As many as 563 piles have been completed out of a total of 588, while 134 piers out of 147 and 807 segments out of 1,259 have been casted. About 66 per cent, 60 per cent and 48 per cent of the work is complete on the K R Road, Lalbagh and South End Circle stations respectively. Around 56 per cent and 57 per cent of the work is complete on the R V Road and Jayanagar stations.

On Reach–4A (RV Road to Puttenahalli Cross)

Three test piles and 237 piles have been completed out of 550, while 22 pile caps out of 141 are done with.