Finally, purple and green Metro corridors to meet, await safety clearance certificate

Soon, Bengalureans can criss-cross the City using Metro, once the safety clearance certificate is awarded to the remaining 12-km green line of Phase 1 of Bengaluru Metro corridor by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The line connects Sampige Road in Malleswaram to Yelachenahalli near Puttenahalli.

The safety inspection began on Wednesday and is expected to continue for two more days. KA Manoharan, CMRS of South Western Railway Zone conducted inspection at Yelachenahalli in South Bengaluru, reports Kannada Prabha. 

The safety parameters include signalling, traction, arrival of coaches, fire safety, elevators and air condition facility. The team also inspected the ticketing system at the station.

If the stretch meets all the safety requirements, it is expected to be open for public, soon. The much-awaited total 43-km stretch network has 41 stations of which 31-km - from Byappanahalli and Mysuru Road and Nagasandra and Sampige Road - is already operational. Commuters will have to interchange at the Underground Majestic station, which will be opened soon.

Considering the safety reasons on the stretch, the train's speed will be reduced to 50 kmph between two stations. For, the distance between two stations is less and there are curves where the train's speed needs to be reduced. In fact, the BMRC had conducted speed test running trains at 90 kmph. However, now it has been recommended to cut down the speed by 10 per cent, reports The Times of India.

It may be recalled here that Metro conducted its trial run between National College and Yelachenahalli six months ago and had been waiting for safety clearance certificate. The much-awaited complete Phase 1 stretch has already been delayed by over two years escalating the cost of the project. But Bengalureans would not mind the delay considering the time and pollution that they have to bear at traffic bottlenecks on road on these stretches.

• Phase 1 Metro