BENGALURU: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is racing against time to fix the missing links at Beniganahalli on Old Madras Road and at Challaghatta on Mysuru Road, and is optimistic of making the Purple Line fully operational by August.

The Purple Line, which was the first route on which Namma Metro rolled into the city, was supposed to be completed this July, but things were deferred for technical reasons. However, work on the two pending stretches, which add up to over 4km, is now being fast-tracked. On completion, Purple Line will be a 43.5-km route that connects Challaghatta with Whitefield (Kadugodi) and makes commute between the eastern and western parts of the city smoother and faster.

In fact, the Purple Line came under the spotlight in the run-up to the recent assembly polls when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a portion of the stretch from KR Puram to Whitefield. The same couldn't be linked to Byappanahalli station as work at Beniganahalli was pending. Ditto on the other end of the line: Work was pending between Kengeri and Challaghatta stations.

BMRCL MD Anjum Parwez told TOI works between Kengeri and Challaghatta have reached an advanced stage and trial runs will begin shortly. "At Benniganahalli station, the facade works take more time. As the station is built on Old Madras Road, there is a need to divert traffic near the Metro station to carry out the work, for which we have got permission... Trial runs between KR Puram and Byappanahalli stations will start by mid-July."

Travel time to reduce, ridership may increase

Opening of the entire east-west corridor will be a game-changer for the city's mobility landscape as it will drastically reduce travel time for passengers. Parwez said it will take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel between Challaghatta and Whitefield (Kadugodi). Covering the same distance by bus or cab usually takes more than two hours in peak time.

"We think ridership will increase by at least 70,000 passengers per day when Purple Line becomes fully operational. More people will shift to Namma Metro as it provides a comfortable travel experience in the city," Parwez added.

Interestingly, this will also be the first time Metro will be travelling out of BBMP limits. Challaghatta station is located next to the newly opened elevated corridor of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, said an official.