South India’s first underground metro has been flagged off by Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bangalore.
Named Namma Metro, it will provide better commuting facilities to the people of the city. With a 5.12 km underground section, this east-west corridor passes beneath city’s iconic landmarks like the Vidhan Soudha, the GPO, Cubbon Park and others. The Namma Metro link will benefit thousands of employees working in several offices in the city.
Phase I work is in progress and efforts are being made to complete the remaining portion of 1st phase within a few months. Phase II of Namma Metro would cost over Rs 26,000 crore. The work has already commenced and it is expected to become operational by 2020. The chief minister of Karnataka said the survey work for Phase III has already commenced.
Venkaiah Naidu assured Karnataka of all the assistance from Central Government for Namma Metro. On the eve, he stressed on the need of public shunning personal transport and using public transport to lessen road traffic.
