Work on Reach-2 picks up pace

Out of the 1,173 piers 1,153 have been completed and 189 piers out of 242 and 1,583 segments cast out of 2,117 are complete. Also, launching of 118 girders has been completed and over all 75 per cent of the work is completed on viaduct.

Launching of segments on girders is going on at a considerable pace between Mysore Road-Outer Ring Road junction and Nayandahalli.

The fast pace of work gives hope to the commuters, who have been faced with a double whammy-- Metro construction and the BDA’s flyover work at the same time.

BMRCL officials said that they are not leaving any stone unturned to complete the work on the Reach at the earliest and open the roads for traffic.

With the experience of implementing Reach-1, they are confident of completing the work in time. Segment launching is almost complete on Chord Road, except on a few patches near Deepanjalinagar and Magadi Road Toll Gate and the civil works are expected to be complete by next December.

Foundation work on most of the stations on the Reach is complete. Construction of concourse level and platform level pier and pier arm at Magadi Road and girder launching have been completed. Station pier and pier arm construction is in progresss at the other stations - Tollgate, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar, Deepanjali Nagar and Mysore Road station.

Revenue dips
On Reach-1, BMRCL claims that there is an increase in number of regular users of the services, even as the initial euphoria has died down. The revenue on the line has come down drastically compared to the first few days.

On November 8, 29,233 people travelled in the Metro generating Rs 4.5 lakh while the same was 24,983 and Rs 3.78 lakh, respectively on November 9 and 24,289 and Rs 3.81 lakh on November 10.

On November 11, 24,874 people travelled generating a revenue of Rs 3.63 lakh but on November 12 (Saturday) it went up to 43,000 and Rs 6.35 lakh.