The missing 2-km Namma Metro link between Byappanahalli and KR Puram stations may be operational by July 15.
The plan is to make it ready by the end of June, but Bangalore Metropolitan Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has apprised that it may take an additional 10-15 days for the track to be open to the public, considering how safety examinations and overall construction of the much-awaited segment progress in the coming weeks.
The current ridership of KR Puram-Whitefield Metro line (13.7km) is 25,000 to 28,000. The ebb and flow is dictated by what time of the week it is. Ridership ranges between 25,000-27,000 on weekdays and rises to 28,000 or 29,000 on weekends and holidays. However, BMRCL is expecting the numbers to quadruple on weekdays after the missing link is ready.
“We are expecting a daily ridership of 1 lakh on the KR Puram-Whitefield line after Byappanahalli station is connected with KR Puram,” said Anjum Parvez, MD, BMRCL.
While the extended Purple Line of Namma Metro was inaugurated with much fervour towards the end of March, many commuters expressed their disappointment with the missing link as it made the option of travelling by Metro unfeasible for many living away from KR Puram, Whitefield and surrounding areas. Some were using the 160 feeder buses BMTC was running between the two stations. “Daily ridership on these buses was 10,000 on an average,” said Vishwanath Kotagal, chief traffic manager, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
