Bangalore Metro likely to launch Baiyapanahalli - Whitefield metro stretch by March 2023

Bengaluru, India (Metro Rail Today): The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is likely to launch the 15 km long Baiyapanahalli - Whitefield metro stretch by March 2023. The Corporation has started trial runs from Whitefield Metro station to Pattandur Agrahara (Whitefield-ITPL) in the Whitefield section of the Purple Line on 21st October 2022.

The first trial run of a six-coach train between Whitefield depot and Pattandur Agrahara (ITPL) Station was conducted successfully. The start of the metro trial run is of much significance as this 3.5-km stretch covering four stations forms part of the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line of Bangalore Metro’s Phase-II.

“We began the trial run at 12.20 pm from Whitefield depot and ended it at 1.40 pm, running at a speed of 15km per hour. It was a smooth ride, the track was done well and we had no issues,” said Managing Director of BMRCL Anjum Parwez after travelling on the debut run with N M Dhoke, Director of Rolling Stock, Electrical and Operations & Maintenance, and Jitendra Jha, Project Manager, Rolling Stock.

“The full train was dragged for a distance of 100 metres from the starting point of the depot on a massive trailer as the third rail (750V power line) is located a bit far for safety reasons. The train took the upward ramp from the depot to Whitefield station. We crossed Channasandra and Kadugodi stations before terminating at ITPL,” Parwez added.

N M Dhoke said the trials will resume post-Deepawali. “After trials are completed, independent verification will be done for assurance of safety and signalling. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will be invited after that,” he said.

Parwez said the trials will gradually touch Garudacharpalya and will be over by February 2023, after which the CMRS processes will be done. “We will then discuss with the government and take a call on whether this stretch alone can be made operational or we will launch the entire line. Simultaneously, work on the pending portion from K R Puram to Baiyappanahalli will be done,” he said.

The Baiyapanahalli - Whitefield stretch of the Purple Line will have two reaches – R1A, an 8.67 km stretch from Baiyappanahalli to Seetharama Palya, and R1B, a 7.14 km stretch from Seetharama Palya to Whitefield.

The Baiyapanahalli - Whitefield stretch will have stops at Benniganahalli, K R Puram, Mahadevapura, Garudacharpalya, Hoodi Junction, Seetharama Palya, Kundalahalli, Nallurhalli, Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, Pattandur Agrahara (ITPL), Kadugodi and Channasandra. Once the stretch opens, it is expected to benefit around 3 lakh passengers.