BMRCL not to airlift coach

Bengaluru: The much-talked-about air lifting of the metro train coach on Reach 4 (National College to Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road, 4.1 km) and 4a (Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road to Puttenahalli, 3.9 km) to start the trials, has been stalled by BMRCL. The reason given: technical difficulties in implementing the project. Now the residents of south Bengaluru will have to wait for the underground tunnels in the North-South corridor to be completed for these stretches to start functioning.

The tracks and stations had been ready over two years ago on these stretches and BMRCL has often said that due to lack of a depot in the area they have not been able to start the trials. So, tenders were invited in the month of May to airlift a coach.

Speaking on the issue, Vasanth Rao, general manager (finance) said, “The technical evaluation team assessed the project and decided not to go ahead with the project. Moving the huge equipment to lift the train is a huge constraint. We will wait until the underground section is over. As soon as one line of tunnels is through, we will push a train like we did through Cubbon Park to start trials at Reach 2. We are hoping that by December we will be able to push a train through the tunnel.”

Former BMRCL Director (Operations and Rolling Stock) D.D. Pahuja had earlier pointed out to Deccan Chronicle that the proposal to lift a train and start trial runs of this particular stretch was in the offing for a long time. He adds, “We had proposed to lift at least one train in 2013 during the month of October-November and start the trial runs. There is space near Puttenahalli so we can get a crane and lift one train, one coach after the other and start testing work.

Trial runs take about 6-7 months. By the time the underground line is ready we could have finished the testing and in the process we can save 5 months at least. “Besides, when the UG line is ready we can extend the same train for trials.”

He adds, “Initially, the former MD Shivasailam agreed but then the management changed and the proposal was not considered.”

It was made known that once the tender was allotted, it would take only three months for the trial to start on that stretch. In September 2012, the first coach for Gurgaon’s Rapid Metro railway was lifted off the ground and placed on the track at the station in U-Block of DLF Phase-III. Many other countries have done it before.

Residents were a happy lot when this announcement was made but they are disappointed now.

Sandeep S. R., a resident, says, “This elevated section has been ready for such a long time. We were happy that finally trials would begin. They can at least make this stretch functional. It will be of great help to the citizens of south Bengaluru. They should do whatever needs to be done – fast!”

The eight-kilometre stretch between Reach 4 and 4A has eight stations – namely, National College, Lalbagh, South End Circle, Jayanagar, Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road, Banashankari, JP Nagar and Puttenahalli.