Green Line (Namma Metro)

Green Line
Yeshwantapur on Green line
Overview
Type	Metro
System	Namma Metro
Locale	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Termini	Nagasandra (Phase I), Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) (Phase II) Puttenahalli (Phase I), Anjanapura (Phase II)
Stations	24 (Phase I) 32 (Phase II)
Daily ridership	35,000 (November 2015)[1]
Operation
Opened	1 March 2014
Operator(s)	Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Character	Elevated and underground
Technical
Line length	24.20 km (Phase I) 40.10 km (Phase II)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	750 V DC Third rail
Operating speed	40 km/h
Route map Legend Bangalore International Exhibition Centre Jindal Manjunathanagar Nagasandra Dasarahalli Jalahalli Peenya Industry Peenya Yeshwanthpur Industry Yeshwanthpur Sandal Soap Factory Mahalakshmi Rajajinagar Kuvempu Road Srirampura Sampige Road Majestic Purple Line Chickpete Krishna Rajendra Market National College Lalbagh Southend Circle Jayanagar Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road Bommasandra line Banashankari Jayaprakash Nagar Putenahalli Anjanapura Road Cross Krishnaleela Park (ISKCON Temple) Vajarahalli Talaghattapura Anjana Township

The Green Line^[2][3] 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 Nagasandra to Puttenahalli under Phase I. When Phase II is completed, it will stretch from BIEC in the north to Anjanapura in the south. The line will measure 24.20 km and will be mostly elevated, with some stations underground. The opening of this line has been delayed several times, due to internal contractor issues and difficult tunnelling conditions. However, the stretch between Sampige Road to Kempegowda will be opened to the public by June 2016. The southern stretch of the line, will may open in end 2016 or early 2017, thereby completing the entire Phase I project. ^[4] The line connects the northern, central and the southern areas of Bangalore. Currently, only a 13.30 northern stretch, from Sampige Road to Nagasandra is operational. ^[5]

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.^[6] 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$790 million).^[7] The cost escalated to ₹116.09 billion (US$1.7 billion) as various problems delayed the completion.^[8] BMRCL received ₹7 billion (US$100 million) from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), ₹250 million (US$3.7 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$720 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).^[9][10]

The foundation stone for the Phase I construction was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 24 June 2006.^[11] 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.^[12] 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.^{[13][14][15][16][17][18]} A trial run was conducted on 8 August 2013.^[19]

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.^[20]

The line was opened to the public on 1 March 2014.^[21] BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola stated that about 25,000 passengers travelled on the line on opening day.^[22] 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.^[23] 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$220,000).^[24]

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.^[20]

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

Rolling stock on the Green Line are silver with a streak of bright green along its length.^[25]

Power

Power is supplied to the Green Line from the Peenya sub-station of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL).^[26][27]

Operations

Frequency and capacity

Trains initially operated on the Green Line from 6am to 11pm. This was extended to 5 am to 11 pm from 1 December 2015. Frequency along the line is 15 minutes between 5 am and 8 am, and 8 pm and 11 pm, and 10 minutes between 8 am and 8 pm.^[28] Trains halt for 30 seconds at each station.^[29] The 9.9 km stretch of Reaches 3 and 3A is covered in 18 minutes, much less than the 40 minutes required by road.^[30]

Each three-coach train has a capacity of 975 passengers.^[20]

References