From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 25: The Reach 2 extension work of Namma Metro Phase 2 from Nayandahalli to Kengeri has been completed and is likely to be thrown open for public use by July.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, who inspected the Namma Metro work on Tuesday, said the 7.53 km long work has been completed at a cost of Rs 1,560 crore, including Rs 360 crore on land acquisition,
Expressing happiness at the progress achieved so far, the chief minister said the length of the East-West corridor of Namma Metro will go up to 18.1 km. It will comprise of six stations at Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnanabharathi, Pattanagere, Kengeri Bus Terminal and Kengeri.
Adequate vehicle parking arrangements are being provided at Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Jnanabharathi stations while the Kengeri bus terminal will have a two-storeyed parking facility. With the exception of the Kengeri bus terminal, arrangements for the pedestrian crossing has been provided in all the other five stations.
The chief minister said the fare for the journey from Baiyyappanahalli to Kengeri has been fixed at Rs 56 while the fare for the longest route in the Metro network from Kengeri to Silk Institute will be Rs 60.
An automatic fare collection facility has been provided on the Metro route under the one-nation-one-card scheme and the entire extension work was expected to benefit 75,000 passengers, Yediyurappa said.
The chief minister said the trial run on the new routes of Namma Metro Reach 2 has been completed.
An additional feature of the extension work is provided for installing 250 kWh solar electric panels on the roofs of all stations, he said.
He said the extension work on the route from Kengeri to Challaghatta was under progress and likely to be completed by March next year.
The union government has also accorded approvals for the Phase 2 and Phase 2A and B works and the Metro train service will be available till the Kempegowda International Airport on completion, Yediyurappa said making it clear the state government is keen to complete the entire work on or ahead of schedule.
Revenue minister R Ashok, housing minister, V Somanna, home minister, Basavaraj Bommai, MLA S Munirathna, Urban Development Department additional chief secretary, and Namma Metro managing director, Rakesh Singh accompanied the chief minister.