From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 14: Namma Metro got its first set of three intermediate car units from by public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Namma Metro at present runs three car train sets.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) Managing Director Mahendra Jain said the Namma Metro is committed to integrating the new car sets to the existing trains as early as possible.

BEMLl is expected to hand over all 150 cars by June 2019.

"Metro has become very popular now. Our ridership has reached four lakh per day. Please give us all 150 coaches by June 2019. We will try and integrate the new set of coaches into the existing trains soon so that it can be dedicated to the public," he said.

Jain also said an exclusive coach for women would be introduced shortly.

"The first coach of every train will be reserved for women after the integration. But on an experimental basis we will allow women to enter the first two entrances and then the others from March 1," he said.

Bengaluru Development Minister K. J. George said the number of people travelling by Namma Metro on its 45 km of Phase I had increased manifold.

He also said the BMRCL had to earlier import metro coaches from abroad earlier, but now it was being manufactured locally by PSU BEML.

George also said work on the extension of the metro was happening at a rapid pace in places such as Kanakapura Road, Kengeri and Whitefield and the inconvenience caused due to it would be unavoidable.

About the suburban rail project, he said there was a delay in getting coaches from the Railways and the task could be handed over to BEML as it had the capacity, which could reduce the delay.

"It would be good if the Centre also pitches in 50-50 for land acquisition," he said.

Bengaluru Central MP P. C. Mohan said with clearance coming for the suburban rail project for the city, Bengaluru's roads could be decongested by up to 25% by easing the roads from traffic along with the metro.