The State government has written to the Union government and the Ministers concerned, requesting an early decision on the inauguration date. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO Trial runs on the K.R. Puram-Central Silk Board stretch of Namma Metro’s Blue Line are scheduled to begin by the end of October, while the elevated section of the Pink Line is expected to receive approval for passenger operations within the next four to five days, Minister for Greater Bengaluru Development Krishna Byre Gowda said on Thursday.The announcements came as the Minister reviewed the progress of the metro construction and directed officials to accelerate work on the delayed Blue Line corridor connecting K.R.
Puram with Hebbal and Kempegowda International Airport.According to Mr. Gowda, the 7.5-km elevated section of the Pink Line, between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, has completed its trial runs.“Safety and electrical tests have also been conducted over the past seven to eight months.
The remaining step is official clearance to commence passenger services,” he said.The State government has written to the Union government and the Ministers concerned, requesting an early decision on the inauguration date.Mr. Gowda said that the Chief Minister’s letter was yet to get a response and indicated that he would seek a meeting with the Union Minister concerned to expedite the process.Blue Line construction faces delaysDuring his inspection of the construction sites, Mr.
Gowda said that the Blue Line corridors under the Metro Phases 2A and 2B were crucial to Bengaluru’s transport infrastructure. However, construction between K.R.
Puram, Nagawara and Hebbal has encountered several obstacles, pushing the project at least a year beyond its scheduled timeline.The work near K.R. Puram was delayed for approximately a year due to a court stay on tree-felling.The Minister said the process of obtaining approvals for tree removal in Bengaluru involved multiple stages, including proceedings before the Tree Committee and the High Court.The relocation of Cauvery water supply pipelines and underground drainage infrastructure has also affected the construction, particularly along the Veerannapalya-Hebbal stretch.
According to the Minister, shifting existing utilities and laying replacement lines caused delays of around six to eight months.Heavy traffic on the Outer Ring Road has further restricted construction activities, forcing workers to carry out much of the work between 7 p.m. and the early hours of the morning, he added.While acknowledging the difficulties associated with large infrastructure projects, Mr. Gowda claimed that contractors had not worked at the required pace.
He directed the officials to ensure that no further delays occur and pressed them to accelerate construction.Train operations targeted for next yearThe K.R. Puram-Central Silk Board corridor, measuring 19.75 km, is expected to see trains operating progressively along individual station sections from the first week of November.
The immediate objective is to extend operations towards Marathahalli, with commercial services between K.R. Puram and Central Silk Board targeted for around the middle of next year.“The 38.44-km K.R.
Puram-Kempegowda International Airport corridor is also under construction. The government aims to begin train operations on the Hebbal-airport stretch by October or November next year.
The officials have been directed to initiate trial runs in the first week of November and accelerate work towards Marathahalli or Hebbal,” Mr. Gowda said.Meanwhile, the Minister instructed the officials to remove construction barricades from sections of the Outer Ring Road where the metro work has been completed, restoring road space for traffic.Mr.
Gowda said that the combined expansion of the metro, suburban rail and bus services could address up to 50% of Bengaluru’s traffic problems once the measures become operational over the next one to two years. Published - October 22, 2026 08:44 pm IST