Namma Metro coach design to be finalised next week

Namma Metro coach design to be finalised next week
S Praveen Dhaneshkar, Bangalore, DHNS:

Those looking forward to get a glimpse of what the coaches of the ‘Namma Metro’ would look like, will have to wait a little bit longer.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is currently in the process of finalising the designs (Mock-Up) of the coaches and will decide/choose the final designs within the next seven to ten days.

BMRCL sources told Deccan Herald that the final design will be approved in the next board meeting. A team of officials from BMRCL had visited South Korea recently for discussions on the design aspects of the train that would be shipped to Bangalore.

The BMRCL has considered about five designs before zeroing in on the final design that is being considered for approval. A consortium led by BEML, Rotem and Mitsubishi have been chosen by BMRCL to build the coaches.

“The first train set is expected in October 2010 and the test run is expected in November 2010. Trial runs will have to be conducted first. The Bangalore Metro on Reach 1 (Baiyappanahalli to Chinnaswamy Cricket stadium) will run as per schedule,” said Dr M Ramachandran, Chairman of BMRCL over telephone from New Delhi on Wednesday.

Underground work

Meanwhile, BMRCL spokesperson B L Yashavanth Chavan said work on the underground corridor at Minsk Square and Vidhana Soudha will commence by the end of this month. “Public can witness men and material begin actual commencement of work by the end of February. Work on Reach 2, 3 and 4 is also on track and will pick up speed after the UG work commences,” he said.

The underground stretch runs between M Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium and Magadi Road on the East-West Corridor and between Seshadripuram-Swastik and City Market-K R Road on the North-South corridor, totally measuring 8.8 km. It will have seven underground stations, including two at Majestic.