Sorry, you can catch this train only in 2011

Sorry, you can catch this train only in 2011

Metro work at Trinity Circle is only 12 per cent done. Delay will stretch 2010 trial run deadline

Senthalir S. Bangalore



If you are wondering when the Bangalore Metro work on the Trinity Circle stretch is going to get over, here's a piece of bad news. Although the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has set a December 2010 deadline for the trial run of the metro rail's Reach 1 (Baiyappanahalli to Cricket Stadium), the slow pace of work at the Trinity Station will stretch it to 2011. Information procured by DNA through an RTI (right to information) application reveals that only 12 per cent of the work has been completed on the Trinity Station, while land acquisition for the completion of the MG Road Station or Plaza Theatre Station is still stuck with litigation. The court orders in this case have been reserved for over a year in the high court. "We cannot comment on this as the case is in the court," said a senior official of BMRCL.
The RTI details, on the status of work completion as of November 2009, at the other five stations on Reach 1 include Baiyappanahalli (27 per cent), Old Madras Road (31 per cent), CMH Road (31 per cent), Ulsoor (39 per cent) and MG Road (30 per cent). BMRCL's 2010 newsletter show that "the work at all the six stations has already commenced and is around 25 per cent."
While the 25 per cent is the average mentioned, work at Trinity Station is lagging behind and this delay is going to drag the overall works on Reach 1 of metro rail. The Trinity and MG Road station works have been awarded to Punj Lloyd at the cost of Rs87.22 crore. However, a senior official of BMRCL said they were positive about completing the work. "The work on Trinity station is on schedule. There is no delay in Reach 1. It won't take much time," said the official.
Towering problem: Metro work on the Trinity stretch is delaying the trial run