From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 2: Reach 3B of Namma Metro from Nagasanda, which is near the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre and Peenya Industrial Area Phase I was flagged off in Bengaluru on May 1.

As many as four new rail stations at Peenya Industrial Area, Jalahalli Cross, Darasarahalli and Nagasandra form part of Reach 3B of Namma Metro.

With the launch of the Reach 3B, Peenya, the largest industrial area in Karnataka and perhaps even South India finds linked to the Metro Rail network.

The addition of four stations along the 3.4 km extension will now enable commuters to travel a distance of 10.5 kms between Mantri Square on Sampige Road station and Nagasandra within 25 minutes.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who flagged off the Namma Metro Reach 3B services in Bengaluru on Friday, said the entire 42.5km metro network will be thrown open by March 2016.

Tender bidding for works on 72-km under Phase II will be finalised within a few days, he said.

Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the Union was placing emphasis on developing metro networks in cities across the country.

"The eligibility for approval has been lowered to a city of population more than 10 lakh, instead of 20 lakh," he said.

However, the formal programme at Peenya depot of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) saw a couple of protests the formal function and the speeches by dignitaries.

Many of protesters held placards and shouted slogans against the project for having failed to provide "basic facilities" of toilets and drinking water at the stations.

Incidentally, the chief minister was in a spot of embarrassment as he repeatedly mentioned May Day, the international labour day, as Karnataka’s Rajyothsava Day on November 1.

The Chief Minister repeatedly referred to ‘May Day’ as being on November 1.

"On November 1 today, we celebrate May Day, and we need to remember our pledge to labourers," he said leading the audience to burst out into laughter as the faux pas.

Immediately there was another reference to November instead of May by the Chief Minister, who somehow seemed to have confused himself of May Day as Rajyothsava Day.