TRAILING, but on track

TRAILING, but on track
How much longer do you have to wait for smoother commute? Times City brings you an update on major infrastructure projects
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The focus on Namma Metro over the past month has been more on plans for extension and details of the three subsequent reaches on phase 1. With work on phase 1 trailing the original schedule, the public take on the pace at which the much-hyped project is taking shape has also been impacted.
But with the government order in place for the extension of the north-south corridor of the rail network — from Yeshwantpur to Hesaraghatta Cross Road and R V Road to Jaraganahalli — and work expedited on the station design for all reaches in phase 1, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is looking at offsetting the delay.
In phase 1, the viaduct construction is in progress on the M G Road stretch, between Trinity Circle and the cricket stadium. According to a BMRC progress report, piers have come up at 23 locations, while 139 girder segments of the total 1,929 segments have been cast. The segments will be launched during the month.
Excavation work on the land that has been taken over from NGEF is tipped to commence soon. The BMRC is also expecting to commence construction work on the Byappanahalli Metro Rail depot in the next three months.
The corporation board has been clearing the new, cost-effective designs for the Namma Metro stations. Though the budgets have come down, BMRC officials have maintained that there would be no compromise on the quality. New designs have been incorporated and more amenities included for the differently-abled.
Other reaches
Construction work on Namma Metro’s reach 2 is tipped to commence in December, while in reach 3, the shifting of utilities from Rajajinagar station to Yeshwantpur station has commenced. In reach 4, the tender valuation of the bids received for the design and construction of the viaducts is on.