Metro Rail News Online

Bengaluru:  The Metro line proposed from Nagawara to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is likely to be realigned to run through Hebbal. Highly placed sources said that the realignment is being considered by the state as well as Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) due to the presence of a high-pressure Bengaluru-Mangaluru petroleum pipeline passing through the originally proposed route, thereby ruling out any construction activity in its vicinity. As per the original Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Phase-2B Metro line, the 29.62-km line was to begin at Nagawara, head to RK Hedge Nagar via Thanisandra Main Road. It was to then turn left to Jakkur Flying School and take the Ballari Main Road to terminate at the airport. The Rs 5,950-crore line was approved by the state cabinet on December 11, 2017, and was slated have six stations — R K Hegde Nagar, Jakkur, Yelahanka (Kogilu Cross) and Chikkajala apart from two stations inside KIA. The 21.25-km Gottigere-...

Bengaluru: Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) is in a cash-strapped situation. Questions are now raised over timely completion of Namma Metro projects on both the lines. These include the Mysuru Road Station - Kengeri on Mysuru Road stretch as well the K R Puram Silk Board on Outer Ring Road. It was in April 2015 that IL&FS bagged the Rs 327-crore contract for construction of viaduct and stations on the 3.95km route starting from the current Mysuru Road station to Pattanagere (Reach 2A). IL&FS -the Mumbai-based infrastructure development firm is also responsible for construction four elevated metro stations: These are at Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Jnanabharathi and Pattanagere towards Kengeri on the Mysuru Road stretch. As per sources Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has issued letter of acceptance to IL&FS Silk Board-Bellandur stretch. In fact as per BMRCL, the company emerged winner in all the three packages. These were ...

Bengaluru: A commuter travelling in Bangalore Metro had a rather bizarre experience. A security staff member stationed at Lalbaugh Metro Station demanded a senior IT manger to speak in Hindi with him. This was a rather ‘rude behaviour’ which caught the commuter off-guard. The incident took place when a senior manager from well-known IT firm was travelling in metro. He was not very happy when a security staff member put up unruly demand. The agitated commuters logged a complaint with customer care and ticketing staff as well. Going a step further he also conveyed the incident to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) top officials. As per the commuters, Prakash (name withheld on request) was rushing towards the metro station during rains. He was to take a train and escape from the rains. Prakash asked the security guard at the station regarding elevator. The staff in turn ordered him to only speak with him in Hindi. The demand took the traveller by surprise. This inci...

Bangalore: There was a lot of buzz on the Rangoli Metro Art Center on Saturday. The Bangalore metro officials planned interesting activities on International Literacy Day. As part of the celebration, using medium of art and Kannada was used to celebrate the day. As per the United Nations website - International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on 8 September, is an opportunity for Governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates, and reflect on the world"s remaining literacy challenges. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN"s Sustainable Development Goals and the UN"s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In keeping with the spirit of Literacy, various programs are held across the globe. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) joined in the celebration by incorporating elements of art and language. Many commuters participated in various activities planned by Metro officials. Commuters came in large n...

Bengaluru: Contracts for laying down the 18-km Metro line on the outer ring road (ORR) to be given after assessing financial capacity. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has stated that contracts to be given to the lowest bidder based on financial competence. This come after several media reports hinting that the contracts are split but work going to same bidder. There were question raised in terms of transparency in allocating contracts based on bidding value. It was earlier reported that the ORR work is split into three packages to speed up work. Though financial bids for the project are yet to be opened by BMRCL, but several sources hinted that one company has quoted lowest bid in all the three packages. This raised doubts and questioned the mode of operation of BMRCL for ORR Metro work. Managing director of BMRCL, Ajay Seth clarified that all the three packages have a number of technical capacity criterion that includes “bid capacity” and “liquidity...

Bengaluru: Questions are now raised on Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) strategy on splitting civil work contract last year. The metro corporation has split work in three packages last year in February. This was done to speed up work on construction of the 18-km corridor on the Outer Ring Road (ORR). But the strategy is raising eyebrows as the contract is likely to go to one bidder. As per the details the lowest bidder for all the three packages would be one contractor – IL&FS. With this detail emerging, many question BMRCL’s strategy and on-time completion of project. When the financial bids for one package out of three was opened in July the lowest bidder was IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company. This was the stretch starting from Silk Board and Bellandur. Several sources from within and outside BMRCL think that IL&FS might end up getting all the three projects. This is based on the information that the Hyderabad-headquartered construction firm...

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) finally offers respite to metro commuters. BMRCL has decided to permit commuters to recharge smart cards using Paytm application. This move comes after uproar from commuters who found it difficult to recharge their cards. This move has been welcomed by metro commuters who were facing problem for a long time. With Paytm interface, riders will be able to save time and reach destination earlier. Commuters will be able to use Paytm app to recharge smart cards and also at major BMTC bus stations as well. The problem came to limelight when Deccan Chronicle reported in its paper the plight of commuters. Many shared that they had to stand in serpentine queues to recharge their smart cards. This was happening owing to shortage of PoS swiping machines at most metro stations. Metro commuters were dissuaded using smart cards and were willing to buy tickets instead. They felt that its best to buy tickets as it was faster than recharging ...

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to set up automated top-up machines at key places in the city. This moves comes in wake of customers complain regarding long queues at to-up travel card counter. To ease the problem, BMRCL plans to have top-up machines at various places including bus stops. Based on the current data, 60 % commuters use ‘Smart Card’ or ‘Varshik Card’. This card offers 15% discount to rider on each trip. Ajay Seth, BMCRL’s managing director shares that the to-up automated machines to be kept on places with high footfall rates. Seth adds that they plan to put the automated top-up machines at TTMC centres of BMTC, prominent banks as well as metro stations. They are also considering other places where these machines can be placed. The MD however, did not give a time frame as to when these machines will be installed. From February this year, BMCRL had allowed to increase the storage value on the card. At Metro...

Bengaluru: Sunday ride for commuters turned ugly with Bangalore metro train’s brakes jammed at RV Station. The technical snag forced officials to stop the train from operating temporarily on one section of Metro’s Green Line. Over 500 metro commuters were asked to de-board the train till the issue was fixed. This caused a delay of 20 minutes and the spill over effect was seen on other two train schedule. The trains headed towards Kempe Gowda Metro station was delayed. A senior metro official informed that the incident took place at 11.36. The brakes jammed just when the train was about to depart from RV Road Station. It was heading towards Jayanagar Metro Station. A passenger on board narrating the experience shared that the train had to be steered in reverse direction by use of a rear engine to Yelachenahalli. The train was back after the problem was resolved. Passengers were asked to alight from the train few seconds before the train’s departure. Public system was ...

Bengaluru: With no headway in land acquisition, Bangalore Metro officials seek bids from contractors. As per sources, three private firms are reportedly investing 100 crore each for constructing Outer Ring Road (ORR) of the metro network. These investors are investing with the hope of early completion of the work. This, after Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) showed no headway with regards to land acquisition. With this delay questions are raised on planning capabilities of metro body. BMRCL has to acquire around 35,000 square meter of land for the for the 18-km line between the Central Silk Board and KR Puram (along the ORR) to materialise. A large portion of land is needed to construct the stations with the viaducts to come up over the road medians. The metro officials have shared that they have submitted a preliminary notification to the government for acquiring 35,000 square meters of land. They are waiting for necessary nod from the government officials. The approval from...

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is now eyeing greater investment from private companies. The metro rail corporation is trying to reach out to interested companies to fund metro rail projects. Recently Infosys Foundation has agreed to offer Rs 200 crore for the development of Konappana Agrahara station (Electronic City-2). Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd is reaching to corporate houses to fund metro projects like the Outer Ring Road that fall under the tech corridors. This partnership works out as a perfect win-win situation for both the BMRCL and the companies. The companies investing in the metro project get lot of advantages like reduced traffic congestion in the locality where their office is situated. Besides, it also means better and safer traffic congestion for commuters. These companies also get an opportunity to be part of the metro project and infrastructure development taking place in the city. In lieu of the funding, BMRCL on their par...

Bengaluru:   With Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation’s (BMRCL) missing several deadline with regards to completion of work for phase 2, state government feels they will meet the 2021 deadline. The target seems ambitious given the deadlines being missed by the JD(S)-Congress coalition government feels the deadline in achievable for Bangalore Metro . There are doubts whether BMRCL will be able to meet deadline as work is not being carried out as per desired pace. In the second phase the Bangalore metro project will cover a stretch of 118 km. In the joint session of the Legislature Governor VR Vala shared a 19-page insight on the project’s progress. During the speech Vala highlighted the priorities as well gave broad perspective to the government. Namma Metro Phase II, which consists of four extensions of Phase I and two new lines, furthermore covers the 19-km Outer Ring Road stretch from the Central Silk Board junction to KR Puram (Phase II-A) and the 30-km stretch from N...

Bengaluru: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) gets a new managing director. Karnataka cadre IAS officer of the 1987 batch, Ajay Seth was appointed as the new MD. Seth succeeds Mahendra Jain who was the additional chief secretary of urban development department, who was holding the additional charge of BMRCL after Pradeep Singh Kharola moved to the Centre in December 2017. Seth will resume office soon but will continue to hold the charge of additional chief secretary – health and family welfare department. Jain during his tenure as an MD of Bangalore Metro was known to introduce several initiatives. These include reserving the first two doors for women passengers and speeding up introduction of the first six-car train with one coach booked for women passenger. Jain was also known for his role in starting Bangalore metro’s airport connectivity project. This project was earlier part of phase 3 but under Jain’s tenure it was taken up during phase 2 itself. ...