Bangalore Metro Update: Metro from Peenya by the year-end

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Bangalore: The wait for Peenya-Malleswaram commuters to hop on to the Metro is getting shorter. Trial runs on the stretch will begin by the last quarter of this year. 
    BMRC chairman and managing director N Sivasailam on Monday said tracks have been laid on Reach 3 and 3A, starting from Malleswaram to Peenya depot, which will be followed by the third rail. “This time, we are laying the third rail after track work is completed to prevent damage,” he said. 
WAITING FOR NOD Sivasailam said BMRC has been waiting for three-and-ahalf years to get clearance for constructing a viaduct above the railway line. Except for the 66-metre span over the railway line in Srirampura near Malleswaram, civil works on the track of the northern line are over. “We have written to the Railways to give clearance for the viaduct. We are also awaiting permission from the commissioner for railway safety,” he said. 
    He hinted that the entire northern reach is ready for operations but for the Malleswaram station. It can start from the northern depot up to the station on Maha Kavi Kuvempu Road. 
FEDERAL BANK CARD On Monday, Federal Bank officially became the merchant banking partner for Reach 3 and 3A (northern line), allowing account holders to swipe their debit or credit cards to travel by the Metro. Those who don’t have accounts can swipe their Metro travel card or SBI travel card to commute between Malleswaram and Peenya. Federal Bank will be the channel to transfer the money collected at automated fare-collecting gates at the entrance and exit of the stations. 
    Referring to the MoU with the bank, Sivasailam said: “This is an indication to commencement of the northern line connecting Malleswaram and Peenya. Over the next few weeks, we will sit with bank members to fix technical platforms for them in the stations on the 12.4-km stretch. Security implications have to be taken into account.” The bank will have to keep their counters ready two to three months before the line is operational, he added. 
    On having different banking partners for the stretches, Sivasailam said: “The idea is to make travelling simpler. The banks are selected through bidding and we hope they will help commuters having travel combo cards.” 
HOW LONG A WAIT? Reaches 2, 4 and 4A will open in 9-12 months Underground section will open by March-April 2013 Overall project will be completed by 2014