Bengaluru: After inspecting the Metro works around the city, Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Thursday said official approval for the elevated Pink Line operations could arrive within five days.The state govt, he confirmed, has already written to Centre requesting it to finalise an inauguration date to commence operations on the elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere.The minister said that Metro corridors connecting KR Puram to Hebbal and Hebbal to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), under Phases 2A and 2B, are critical to Bengaluru’s transport infrastructure. The 38.44 km KR Pura-KIA stretch has achieved 61.5% overall physical progress, with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2027 and early 2028 between Hebbal and KR Puram.Gowda explained that the stretch between KR Pura, Nagawara and Hebbal has presented significant construction challenges, resulting in delays. Inspecting the works along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), he expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress in certain stretches, which has adversely affected traffic movement.“The project is already delayed by a year. I have firmly instructed officials that there must be no further delay and that trial runs must begin by the end of October,” he said.For the KR Pura–Central Silk Board part, trial runs on the tracks are to begin by the end of October. From the first week of Nov, trains are to be operated progressively along individual station sections, with plans to extend services from KR Pura to Marathahalli.
