Bengaluru Metro: Safety inspection of Byappanahalli-KR Pura section on September 21

Bengaluru Metro's Byappanahalli-KR Pura section.

In what could be a major relief for Metro passengers travelling to and from Whitefield, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will inspect Byappanahalli-KR Pura section (2 km) on September 21.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director Anjum Parwez told Moneycontrol: "CMRS will inspect Byappanahalli–KR Pura section on September 21. It will take another six to seven days to meet the conditions set by CMRS to begin commercial operations. We will be ready to start passenger services from September 29."

However, the CMRS inspection of Kengeri-Challaghatta section has been delayed. Earlier, BMRCL had decided to commence operations on both Byappanahalli-KR Pura and Kengeri-Challaghatta (2 km) sections simultaneously.

Asked about the status of the Kengeri-Challaghatta section, Parwez said they are pursuing a date for the inspection from CMRS.

A senior BMRCL official said commercial operations for the Byappanahalli-KR Pura section are expected to commence either by the end of September or in the first week of October. He said, "We will finalise the inaugural date in coordination with the Central and state governments. CMRS inspection for the Kengeri-Challaghatta section will happen in another 15- 30 days."

Sources said CMRS will reach Benniganahalli station, situated between KR Pura and Byappanahalli stations, to inspect lift and escalator testing, as well as pump-room and fire suppression inspections. He will check platform clearance, track, and travel in a motor trolley towards KR Puram and Byappanahalli. He is also expected to inspect curves, third rail, open-web girder bridge, bearings, and scrutinise registers and documents, along with rolling stock.

Meanwhile, BMRCL has announced that Purple Line (Byappanahalli - Kengeri) Metro services will be affected on September 21 due to the statutory safety inspection. Train services will be suspended all day between KR Puram to Garudacharapalya and Byappanahalli to Indiranagar from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

However, train services will be available from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Garudacharapalya all day and from Indira Nagar to Kengeri from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Further, train services will continue to operate on other sections of the Purple Line as well as the Green Line til 11 pm.

The CMRS inspection is the final statutory certification requirement before the section can be opened to the public. Once Byappanahalli-KR Pura and Kengeri-Challaghatta sections are opened, the entire 44 km Purple Line (Whitefield-Challaghatta) will be operational.

The completion of the missing link between KR Pura and Byappanahalli will significantly ease the commute for many passengers, especially tech professionals heading to areas such as Mahadevapura, ITPB, and Kadugodi.

According to BMRCL officials, the journey from Challaghatta in West Bengaluru to Whitefield in East Bengaluru is estimated to take around 76 minutes by Metro, with an end-to-end journey fare fixed at Rs 60. Bengaluru Metro's daily ridership is expected to increase from the existing 6.2 lakh to 7 lakh once the Whitefield-Challaghatta corridor is launched.