Opening of Metro blue line likely to be delayed further

BENGALURU: If the city’s much-awaited Blue Line metro route opens, it could reduce the traffic pressure significantly. However, the date for the route, which was supposed to open in early next year, has been postponed again, and the wait for the line has increased further.

Metro commuters who were waiting for the opening of much-awaited Blue Line metro have to face disappointment again. The wait for Namma Metro’s much-anticipated Blue Line, which connects Silk Board and KR Pura along the congested Outer Ring Road and connects key IT corridors, is set to increase further.

The BMRCL had earlier set a target to open the first phase of the Blue Line, about 19 km long, by the end of 2026 or early 2017. But with work still pending, it is very likely that commercial operations will now be postponed till at least mid-next year.

Since work is still pending at many places on the Blue Line between KR Pura and Silk Board, it will not be possible to meet the target of commercial operations in early next year. As the work will take more time, the opening of the route will be delayed.

What is causing the Blue Line delay?

Viaduct works at Marathahalli and Central Silk Board are incomplete.

Station work at Iblur has started slowly due to high-pressure GAIL gas pipeline and water pipelines.

At Central Silk Board, clearance for construction of viaduct pillars was delayed.

Work to build the connection to Baiyappanahalli depot, which is necessary for train operations and maintenance, is pending.

Construction of the travelator to connect the Blue Line station with the operational,

Yellow Line station has not yet begun.

Further, the delay in the first phase route may also impact the second phase. The KR Puram to Airport connecting route also needs to open in 2027. Due to the delay in the first phase work, there is a possibility that it will impact the second phase as well.

As a result, it is said that the wait for airport passengers will also increase further.Due to the delay in the route, on one hand the waiting time for passengers will increase, and on the other hand traffic in the IT corridor is also likely to increase further.