Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line to be operational in two phases

Tunnelling to be completed by October

BMRCL officials said that the entire tunnelling work will be completed by October 2024. "So far, 96.7% of the tunnelling work is done. We are hopeful to meet the deadline without major obstacles, though tunnelling in Bengaluru remains a challenging task," said a BMRCL official.

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In July 2024, BMRCL achieved a new milestone with 308 meters of tunnelling completed by Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Tunga between KG Halli and Nagawara retrieval shaft by ITD. This surpassed the previous record of 273 meters by TBM Urja between Cantonment and Pottery Town in May 2022 by L&T.

Officials said 693 meters of tunneling work (twin tunnels between KG Halli and Nagawara retrieval shaft) is pending, including 163 meters for TBM Tunga and 530 meters for TBM Bhadra.

"Seven out of nine TBMs (Urja, Varada, Avni, Lavi, Vindhya, Vamika, and Rudra) deployed for the underground corridor have completed 21 km (twin tunnel) of tunnelling work from Dairy Circle to KG Halli," said an official.

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"Track work and station work are now progressing. Signalling, telecom and traction, Platform Screen Doors, and others will take more time," said another source.

The elevated section of Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere) is being constructed by GR Infraprojects after BMRCL terminated the contract with the earlier firm, Simplex Constructions, in 2021 due to slow pace of work. L&T, ITD, and Afcons are entrusted with the construction of the city's longest underground Metro section between Dairy Circle and Nagawara.

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Pink Line will have 18 stations: Kalena Agrahara (Gottigere), Hulimavu, IIM-B, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital, Tavarekere (Swagath Road Cross), Dairy Circle, Lakkasandra (Mico Industries), Langford Town, Rashtriya Military School (Vellara Road), MG Road, Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment, Pottery Town, Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Kadugundanahalli (Arabic College), and Nagawara.

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Pink Line connects with the Blue Line (Central Silk Board – Kempegowda International Airport) at Nagawara, with the Yellow Line (RV Road – Bommasandra) at Jayadeva Interchange, and with the Orange Line (Kempapura – JP Nagar) at JP Nagar 4th Phase.

Asked about the status of the other Metro corridors, an official said: "The 3 km Green Line extension (Nagasandra - Madavara) will be operational. Trial run is likely by mid-August and Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) inspection is expected by September-October. Commercial operations will begin after that. The 19 km Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra), which connects Electronics City, will be ready by December 2024."