Green Line (Namma Metro)

Green Line
Yeshwantapur on Green line
Overview
Type	Metro
System	Namma Metro
Locale	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Termini	Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) Anjanapura
Stations	13 24 (Phase I) 32 (Phase II)
Daily ridership	24,605 (March 2014)
Operation
Opening	1 March 2014
Operator(s)	Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Character	Elevated and underground
Technical
Line length	10.5 km 24.20 km (Phase I) 40.10 km (Phase II)
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	750V DC Third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h
Route map     Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC)     Jindal     Manjunathanagar     Nagasandra Dasarahalli     Jalahalli Peenya Industry Peenya Yeshwantpur Industry Yeshwanthpur Sandal Soap Factory Mahalakshmi Rajajinagar Kuvempu Road Srirampura Sampige Road Majestic     Chickpete Krishna Rajendra Market     National College     Lalbagh     Southend Circle     Jayanagar Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road     Banashankari     Jayaprakash Nagar     Puttenahalli     Anjanapura Road Cross     Krishnaleela Park (ISKCON Temple)     Vajarahalli     Talaghattapura     Anjana Township Map Legend Transfer to Purple Line Parking

The Green Line^[1][2] of the Namma Metro is part of the mass-transit rail system for the city of Bangalore, India. It will consist of 24 stations from Hesaraghatta Cross to Puttenahalli Terminal. The line will measure 24.2 kilometres (15.0 mi) and will be mostly elevated, with 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and 3 stations underground.^[3] The line will connect the Northern and Southern areas of Bangalore.^[4]

History

The following dates represent the dates the section opened to the public, not the private inauguration.

The detailed project report (DPR) for Phase I, comprising the Purple and Green Lines, of Namma Metro project was prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and submitted to the BMRCL in May 2003. The final approval on a scheme that incorporated the expertise of DMRC and RITES Limited did not come until April 2006.^[5] The DPR prepared by DMRC envisaged a 33 km (21 mi) elevated and underground rail network with 32 stations for Phase I of the project. The proposed gauge was standard gauge unlike the broad gauge on the Delhi Metro network. The rationale for the metro includes reduced journey times, cutting fuel use, accident reduction and lower pollution.

Construction work for Phase I of the Namma Metro project was scheduled to start in 2005 but was delayed by a February 2006 change of government in Karnataka and continued debate over whether the project was financially feasible and appropriate for the city. Finally, on 25 April 2006 the Indian Cabinet approved the project, which was then budgeted at more than 54 billion (US$860 million).^[6] The cost escalated to 116.09 billion (US$1.8 billion) as various problems delayed the completion.^[7] BMRCL received 7 billion (US$110 million) from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), 250 million (US$4.0 million) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 23% from the Central Government, 33% from the State Government and the rest as a 49.05 billion (US$780 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).^[8][9]

The foundation stone for the Phase I construction was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 24 June 2006.^[10] Construction on Reach 3 and 3A of Phase I of the Namma Metro began in 2009-10. The total cost of the project on this stretch was 2,100 crore.^[11] The underground work commenced in May 2011. Each corridor consists of two tunnels which are the first underground tunnels built for trains in South India. The tunnels, dug using tunnel boring machines (TBM), are located approximately 60 feet below ground level, have a diameter of 5.5metres and are 5metres apart. Four TBMs, nicknamed Helen (TBM 1), Margarita (TBM 2), Kaveri (TBM 3) and Krishna, were used for tunnelling work on the Green Line.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]} A trial run was conducted on 8 August 2013.^[18]

Construction of the stretch required 1.3 lakh tonnes of concrete, 44,500 tonnes of steel bars, and 190 km of high tension wires weighing 2900 tonnes. A total of 395 piers, including station piers and portals, were constructed on the stretch. The tallest pier of the viaduct is a 21 metre pier between Kuvempu Road and Sriramapuram stations, opposite Gayatri Devi Park. There 353 spans on the stretch, the longest being the 66 metre curved span over the railway track off Sriramapuram. The total roofing area of the 10 stations on the stretch was 47,000 square metres.^[19]

The line was opened to the public on 1 March 2014.^[20] BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola stated that about 25,000 passengers travelled on the line on opening day.^[21] Civil works had not been completed at Peenya Industry and Peenya stations, among others. These were covered up by paintings, and work was expected to be complete in another two months.^[22] In the first month of operations, 7.62 lakh people at an average of 24,605 people daily used the line, generating a revenue of 1.5 crore (US$240,000).^[23]

A 3.4 km stretch of the Green Line from Peenya Industry to Nagasandra was opened on 1 May 2015. Three new stations - Jalahalli, Dasarahalli and Nagasandra - were added to the line. Metro trains cover the 10.5 km stretch from Sampige Road to Nagasandra in 25 minutes.^[24] The line was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu at Peenya depot.^[25] Protestors holding placards and shouting slogans gathered at the venue during the inauguration and protested BMRCL's decision to not provide toilets or drinking water facilities at all stations.^[26][27]

Stations

There are 24 stations on the Green Line. Ten stations, from Peenya Industry to Sampige Road, were opened on 1 March 2014.

Each station has 50 to 60 surveillance cameras. Twenty-nine passenger lifts and 46 escalators are built on the 10 stations of Reaches 3 and 3A.^[19]

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

Rolling stock on the Green Line are silver with a streak of bright green along its length.^[28]

Power

Power is supplied to the Green Line from the Peenya sub-station of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL).^[29][30]

Operations

Frequency and capacity

Trains operate on the Green Line from 6am to 11pm. Services are available every 10 minutes, with a 30-second halt at each station.^[31] The 9.9 km stretch of Reaches 3 and 3A is covered in 18 minutes, much less than the 40 minutes required by road.^[32]

Each three-coach train has a capacity of 975 passengers.^[19]

References