6 months ago
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Confusion broke retired connected Monday aft Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced connected societal media that the Namma Metro’s long-awaited Pink Line, connecting Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, would beryllium operational by May 2026.
His announcement, however, contradicted erstwhile statements made by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which had maintained that the 21.3-km corridor would unfastened successful 2 stages with the afloat enactment expected lone by the extremity of 2026.
In an X post, Mr. Shivakumar, who besides holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, wrote: “Our committedness to amended connectivity continues! Namma Metro Pink Line connecting Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara volition beryllium operational by May 2026. This 13.76-km agelong volition easiness postulation and fortify north-south connectivity crossed Bengaluru.”
The announcement instantly drew attraction and immoderate scepticism from societal media users who recalled that the BMRCL had repeatedly stated that the May 2026 deadline applied lone to the elevated conception of the enactment betwixt Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere connected Bannerghatta Road. The remaining underground stretch, from Dairy Circle to Nagawara, was inactive nether construction, with the BMRCL earlier mounting December 2026 arsenic the people for completion.
BMRCL clarifies
When contacted by The Hindu, a elder BMRCL authoritative clarified the situation. “Only the elevated conception astir 7.5 km from Tavarekere to Kalena Agrahara is expected to beryllium acceptable by May 2026. The 13.76-km underground stretch, moving from Dairy Circle to Nagawara and passing done cardinal hubs similar M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, and Tannery Road, is scheduled for completion by December 2026,” the authoritative said.
The authoritative added that civilian operation enactment for the elevated conception had already been completed, portion way laying and strategy integration were progressing crossed some sections. “Station enactment is inactive nether mode successful the underground segment,” the authoritative noted.
BEML’s bid supply
Meanwhile, different elder BMRCL root cautioned that the operational timelines inactive hinge connected bid proviso schedules. “These are optimistic estimates. It each depends connected BEML delivering the bid sets connected time. As per the contract, the BEML was expected to proviso the trains by June 2025, but the docket has been delayed. We present expect transportation successful 2026 truthful that proceedings runs, inspections, and CMRS approvals tin beryllium completed arsenic planned,” authoritative said.
In August 2023, the Bengaluru-based nationalist assemblage portion BEML Ltd. secured a declaration to manufacture and support 318 metro coaches (53 trainsets) implicit 15 years. This included 96 coaches designated for the Pink Line and 222 coaches for the Blue Line, which covers Phase 2A and 2B extensions.
Like different metro corridors, the Pink Line task has faced aggregate delays since its inception. Initially projected to beryllium operational by 2020, the deadline was archetypal extended to December 2025.
The Pink Line, forming a cardinal portion of Namma Metro Phase 2, volition agelong 21.3 km from Kalena Agrahara successful the southbound to Nagawara successful the north. Of this, 13.8 km comprises underground tunnels, portion 7.5 km is an elevated viaduct.
The enactment is expected to greatly amended north–south connectivity, linking dense residential areas and large commercialized zones with the metropolis centre. Tendering for the elevated conception began arsenic aboriginal arsenic 2017, but advancement was dilatory owed to onshore acquisition hurdles, inferior shifting, and method complexities successful tunnelling beneath heavy built-up areas. The underground conception of Bengaluru’s longest continuous metro passageway involves challenging operation done immoderate of the city’s astir congested localities.
Once operational, the Pink Line volition link respective cardinal transit nodes, including M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, and Cantonment, earlier terminating astatine Nagawara, wherever it volition nexus to the upcoming airdrome enactment nether Phase 2B.
