175 km new metro lines to be added by 2026: DCM

21 new train sets to be added at the cost of Rs 1,130 crore

Bengaluru, Nov 7: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday announced that 175 km of new metro lines would be operational by 2026 in Bengaluru.

Addressing a press conference after inspecting the newly added extension line from Nagasandra to Madavara on Tumkur Road, he said, “30 km of new metro lines will be added by 2025 and 175 km new metro lines will be added by 2026.”

Before addressing the press, the DCM took a ride along with MP Tejaswi Surya, Nelamangala MLA Srinivasaiah, Dasarahalli MLA Muniraju from Yeshwanthpur metro station to Madavara metro station.

Metro 3rd stage approved
“We have completed the first and second phase of metro and the Centre has approved the 3rd phase of metro. We have already paid up Rs 1,130 crore for new train sets,” he added.

“Plans are afoot to build a pedestrian skywalk at Manjunathanagar metro station. We have also entered into an agreement with Indian Railways to jointly develop pedestrian passage at Yeshwanthpur railway station. A project report has been prepared to develop an underpass at Chikkabidarakallu in association with National Highways Authority of India. We are also in discussion with NHAI to build an underpass at Madavara metro station. Commuters who travel to Bengaluru from Tumakuru side can park their vehicles at BEIC ground and take the metro to the city thus avoiding traffic,” he said.

Official inauguration soon
“The 3-km metro extension line from Nagasandra to Madavara will be flagged off on an experimental basis for the public tomorrow. We will invite all the MPs and other representatives and officially inaugurate it at a later date,” he noted.

“The greenline is currently 33.46 km and the purple line is 40.5 km. I would like to thank the Centre and all the stakeholders who joined hands for making it a possibility. The ridership in Bengaluru is the highest in the country and it shows that the metro service is helping people of Bengaluru,” he added.

Q&A
Lokayukta case
“CM Siddaramaiah could have asked for an extension of one week for the Lokayukta questioning in view of the by-elections, but he did not want to misuse his position and hence he did not seek postponement. Siddaramaiah has respect for the law of the land. He will come out clean in the Muda case,” he said, while replying to queries from reporters about Siddaramaiah’s questioning by Lokayukta.

Asked about Opposition’s criticism that the CM was questioned only for two hours, he said, “You have ask this question to the Lokayukta office. The CM has attended the questioning as he was summoned.”

Asked about complaint lodged against Excise Minister R B Thimmapur by the Bar Owners’ Association, he said, “Anyone can complain to the Governor administratively. There have been many complaints like this. This is politically motivated.”

Asked about the suicide note of a personal assistant of Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, he said, “The police will take suitable action.”

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