Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, and B S Yediyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka, inaugurated the 6-km long Southern Extension line under Phase-2 of Namma Metro from Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute Metro stations by flagging off the train on January 14, 2021.
The inauguration of the Metro extension line and the FOBs on January 14, 2021, is a step towards the goals of Bengaluru Mission 2022 to enable faster commute and smart mobility options in the city.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2 covers a route length of 74 km with 62 stations and consists of extensions to both Purple and Green lines of Phase-1 in all the four directions totaling 34 km and two new lines viz. Gotigere-Nagawara for a route length of 21 km & R V Road- Bommasandra for a route length of 19 km.
The project is being implemented at a cost of Rs 30,695 Crores. The extension has 5 new stations beyond Yelachenahalli Metro Station on the currently operational line: Konanakunte Cross, Doddakallasandra, Vajarahalli, Thalaghattapura, and Silk Institute. The extension is 6 km long elevated metro at the southern end of the currently operational 24.2 km long green (north-south) line, according to a PIB release.
With this extension, N-S corridor will become 30.2 km long. The Elevated portion comprises 213 spans. The work involves 1,032 piles, 223 Piers, and 1,998 segments for superstructure and 665 of girders in stations. For electrification works, signalling, and Telecommunications, apart from ‘state of art equipment’, 765km of cable and wires of various sizes have been laid.
Some of the features of the metro are:
- For convenience of passengers, each station is equipped with 8 Escalators and 4 Elevators, totalling to 40 Escalators and 20 Elevators respectively.
- All 5 stations of this extension line are going to have rooftop solar power with total 1.2 MW capacity. The installation of the solar power plants is targeted for completion by March 2021. This is the first time Bangalore Metro is establishing the capacity for the solar power,
- Energy efficient LED lights have been provided at all 5 stations.
- All the stations are provided with entry/exits opening onto the newly provided service road. Bus bays, Pickup and Drop area for Taxi and Autos are all earmarked in the service roads.
- For Physically and visually challenged persons, all the facilities like ramps, lifts, separate toilets, tactile routing, and earmarked space in trains are provided.