BMRCL racing to complete Metro Phase I by November

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, June 24, 2016, DHNS: Determined to meet the November 1 deadline set by Chief minister Siddaramaiah for completing the Phase 1 of Namma Metro, the BMRCL has decided to put more men on the job.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation said that more than 1,000 personnel were deployed round-the-clock at the four incomplete tunnels as well as at the Majestic intersection.

While BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola expressed confidence that the entire 42-km stretch connecting East-West and North-South corridors will open in around six months, experts, however, remained skeptical.

Kharola said: “The Krishna tunnel boring machine (TBM) is 140 m away from a breakthrough. “We are operating the machine very cautiously as it is tunneling hard rock. Going by the assessment of Kaveri TBM’s progress, the soil is likely be loosen after tunneling through the next 20 metres,” he said and added the BMRCL has deployed reasonable manpower as well as finance.

Meanwhile, another BMRCL official said Coastal Projects Ltd, which has been tasked with the two tunnels in the southern side (KR Market), has deployed 750 personnel and more people are working at Majestic Metro station as well as in the northern side (Sampige Road).

“There is no slackness in the work. In the interests of people, the BMRCL wants to complete the project as early as possible without compromising on safety,” he said.
“Krishna TBM is going slow now near Kote Venkataramana Temple. Once 10 rings are complete, tunneling would be fast in the remaining 90 rings. We are expecting a breakthrough anytime before July,” he noted.

Not possible
Meanwhile, urban commute analyst Sanjeev Dyamannavar opined that the BMRCL would not be able to complete the entire Phase 1 project of Namma Metro anytime before March next year. Sampige Road to Basavanagudi might be ready by December this year using single line.

“Krishna TBM needs two months for the breakthrough. Six more months are needed to lay tracks and complete signalling work besides obtaining a safety inspection report. There’s no point keeping the public guessing about connecting all the four sides. The BMRCL must ensure trains are operational in south Bengaluru as well as Nagasandra to Majestic before November,” he said.