Trial run on Sampige-Peenya line in six months, says BMRCL chief

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said on Wednesday that the delay in executing the 66-metre viaduct across the Railway line in Malleswaram had affected the trial run of the Metro along North line (from Sampige Road to Peenya).

BMRCL chief N Sivasailam, however, said the trial run might begin in February-March 2013. In the first stage the trial run will be up to Yeshwantpur. In April-May, it will run up to Srirampura, as part of the second stage.

Though work on Reach 4 (the stretch from National College to Puttenahalli) is almost complete, train operations are thwarted as the underground corridor work at KR Market and Majestic is yet to begin. Also there is no depot along the corridor to station the trains, said BMRCL officials.

Trains can be made to run along Reach 4 by 2013-end if the Commissioner of Railway Safety permits setting up of a temporary depot to station trains, said an official.
Multi-level station works at Majestic are in full swing. Soon, an alternative space will be provided nearby for KSRTC buses, he added.

Noting that passenger response to train operations along the Reach 1 between MG Road and Baiyappanahalli in the past one year was excellent, Sivasailam said: “To mark its first anniversary, freedom fighters will be honoured at a function at Baiyappanahalli on October 20.” As a step forward, Metro staff at various stations are being trained in sign language to help deal with people suffering from hearing and speech impairment, he added.

The western side of the boulevard on MG Road will be opened to the public by December 2012, he said.

Also ‘Bengaluru Santhe’ at Swami Vivekananda Road Station will be opened to the public. The entry to MG Road station from the erstwhile Plaza theatre side will be opened to passengers by March 2013, Sivasailam said.

Tail gating problem

On tail gating problem, the BMRCL chief said passengers who escape with smart tokens issued for travelling, instead of dropping them at exit gates, will be fined Rs 200 per token.

On the bad state of roads at places where the Metro work is on, he admitted to lack of expertise to restore the roads with whitetopping. BMRCL will talk to BBMP on the issue, he said.

Why no 24 hour service?

On extending Metro train operations till 11 pm, Sivasailam said it will be considered once work on other Reaches is completed.

The services can be made 24/7, if there are enough passengers, he added. He said plans to instal platform screen doors at stations to avoid suicides and other mishaps were not feasible.

Such screens are suitable for underground metro stations, he said.