On track: Reach-3 to start tests soon

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As the launch of Reach-3 of Namma Metro, from Swastik to Hesarghatta Cross, is inching towards its scheduled launch early next year, testing of trains will begin shortly. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has said that the tracks at Peenya depot on this stretch will be charged on Wednesday for running the train.

A senior official of BMCRL told Deccan Chronicle, “We are going to charge the 1.2 km long test tracks at Peenya depot for testing the trains procured for Reach-3. We have obtained three sets and each of the trains will have to run for over 2,000 km to get safety approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). The tracks will be charged on Wednesday and testing of trains, tracks, and other operating systems will follow only after the certification process starts.”

At Baiyyappanahalli depot, the test track is 900 meters long, but at Peenya depot the test track is longer, allowing trains to run at a faster speed during the trials. Moreover, this 11-km corridor from Hesarghatta Cross to Swastik has more commercial potential than Reach-1 between Baiyyappanahalli and Mahatma Gandhi Road. “The volume of passengers will be four times more, as there are13 stations, starting from Sampige Road (Swastik) to Sriramapura, Maha Kavi Kuvempu, Rajajinagar, Mahalakshmi, Soap Factory, Yeshwanthpur (Reach 3), Outer Ring Road, Peenya Industry, Peenya Village (Reach 3a), Jalahalli Cross, Dasarahalli Cross and Nagasandra (Hessarghatta Cross). Reach-1 has just six stations,” said the official.

About 60 per cent of the civil work on Reach-3 has been completed. However, work on the Swastik Metro station remains a problem, with the Railways and Metro authorities battling in court over the issue of land acquisition.

How the Metro Phase-1 is chugging
Reach-1
Launch of Reach-1 took almost 4.5 years. The Reach was to be commissioned in 2010. It missed three launch deadlines and was finally thrown open to the public in October 2011.

Reach-2, 4
These two reaches will become operational in 2013.

Reach-3
Scheduled for launch next year, 60 percent of the station work is over thus far.