The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received a nod from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to start commercial operations between Madavara and Nagasandra stations, The Indian Express reported. The approval comes after the inspection of the 3.7-kilometre-long stretch on Thursday, October 3.
The BMRCL is expected to start the operations on the stretch in the second or third week of October. However, no official announcement has been made. The stretch is an extended part of the North-South green corridor, which has three stations – Manjunatha Nagar, Chikkabidarakallu and Madavara.
The extension has been built at a cost of Rs 298 crore and adds to the connectivity to the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Tumkur Road.
The BMRCL submitted its application for inspection on August 7, 2024, indicating its preparedness to open the new line for public use. An official inspection, led by Anant Madhukar Chowdhary, Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (Southern Circle), took place on Thursday.
Before receiving approval, the BMRCL carried out comprehensive tests on the line, including a Continuous Automatic Train Control system evaluation. A specialised trial train, fitted with an OMS 2000 system, was deployed for speed trials between Madavara and Nagasandra.
During these trials, the train achieved speeds of up to 80 km/h, with no significant issues recorded, ensuring that safety standards were adequately met. The inspection team found that all safety requirements as per the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, were met.
The commissioner noted that all necessary certificates and documents provided by the BMRCL had been reviewed, confirming that operational readiness had been achieved.