Metro rail looks to keep date with destiny

July 13: It was on June 24, 2006 that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the big ticket Namma Metro in Bengaluru, — the country's second Metro after New Delhi’s. Five years later, Mr Singh will flag off the Metro from M G Road in the city on September 1, on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, in the presence of a battery of Union ministers and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. With just 49 days left for the grand launch, Deccan Chronicle does a reality check on the progress the Metro has made on the 7.1 km stretch between M.G. Road and Byapanahalli, also called Reach -1 of the project.

While the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRC) has been quite tranparent about the tendering process, land acquisition, its finances and work status on its website, we put to rest what doubts remain about the Metro in a report card detailing its progress as of today.

Safety and Discount MBT Karani

* Around 100 policemen will be deployed along Reach-1 for security.

* CCTV cameras have been installed across the stations.

* Private agencies too will provide security.

* Metal detectors are being installed at the entry and exit points.

Namma Metro coaches

* 5 sets of trains from BEML have already arrived at Byapanahalli depot.

* Each train has three coaches and can carry around 1000 passengers.

Bouleward work

* Work on improving the look of the MG Road station will be completed in less than three weeks.

Roads leading to Metro stations

* With just 49 days left for the Metro to begin its run in the city, the BMRCL is restoring all roads in its vicinity.

* The Research Designs and Schedules Organisation submits its approval for Metro’s launch to BMRCL by end July, to be forwarded to the Commissioner for Railway Safety who will conduct an inspection and give his authorisation.

Safety Certificate Procedure

* Once the Research Designs and Schedules Organization submits its report to BMRCL, the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) will inspect the Metro and take about 10 days to issue a safety certificate.

* The civil work is almost complete and officials claim not much work remains to be done at the stations.

Facilities for Metro Passengers

* A ramp has been provided for the disabled at the entry and exit points of all seven stations of Reach-1.

* Escalators, elevators, emergency exit points, staircases and parking facilities have been provided at the two stations.

Ticketing and fares

* Automated ticket vending machines have been installed at each station along Reach-1.

* BMRCL has come out with a fare chart for Namma Metro.

* An MoU was signed recently between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) for a common daily Metro-BMTC bus travel (Women MBT Shoes Sale) pass.

* Passengers with a SBI debit card need not buy a ticket. All they have to do is swipe their cards at the Metro stations and the fare will be deducted from their accounts.