Progress Report: Work On Bengaluru's Longest Underground Metro Line Gains Momentum

After significant delays, Bengaluru's longest underground metro section is finally progressing steadily.

MG Road, one of Bengaluru's prominent streets, is now home to a metro station situated over 62 feet below the surface. As part of the Pink Line, this station will seamlessly connect with the existing Purple Line, enhancing accessibility between the CBD and the city's southern and northeastern suburbs.

The Pink Line covers 21.26 kilometres, featuring a 13.76-kilometre underground section and a 7.5-kilometre elevated portion, with 18 stations, including 12 underground.

Among the stations, MG Road and Shivajinagar are nearly 90 per cent complete in terms of civil work. Workers are actively engaged in finishing touches like tiling, painting, and air-conditioning installations.

Both tunnels have tracks in place, with preparations underway for electrical, signalling, and system installations, as per a Deccan Herald report.

Lakkasandra Station is witnessing increased civil work activity. Here, TBM Rudra is nearing the end of its northbound 720-metre tunnelling towards Langford Town, having covered 461 metres as of 24 September, with an expected breakthrough in late October or early November.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) aims to finalise all civil and track-laying work on the Pink Line by the second half of 2024, paving the way for traction, signalling, and system installations.

Subrahmanya Gudge, Chief Engineer of the Underground Section, emphasised that passengers can switch lines without exiting the AFC gates and will be billed according to a telescopic fare structure.

Tunneling progress on other sections of the Pink Line is also nearing completion. TBMs Tunga and Bhadra, tunneling from Venkateshpura through KG Halli, are expected to achieve a breakthrough early next year. They have approximately 2.79 kilometres left to tunnel between Venkateshpura and Nagavara, with 17.93 kilometres already completed out of the targeted 20.991 kilometres.

Raghavendra Shanbhag, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Underground Section (RT 01), anticipates 50 per cent completion of station work at Dairy Circle, Lakkasandra and Langford Town, with the remaining work expected to conclude by June 2024.

Dayanand Shetty, Chief Engineer overseeing Underground Section (RT 03 and 04), noted that civil work is 65 per cent complete at the six stations between Cantonment and Nagavara.

Excavation is finished at all stations, and progress is significant at Cantonment and Pottery Town. Shetty expects station work at Cantonment, Pottery Town, and Tannery Road to be completed by March/April and at Venkateshpura, KG Halli, and Nagavara by July/August.

TBM Tunga has bored 928 metres out of the 1,184 metres between Venkateshpura and KG Halli for its second drive, while TBM Bhadra has covered 522 metres out of the targeted 1,186 metres, both aiming to complete their assignments by March.