Title - Trial run of Reach 2 of Namma Metro expected at year end

Bangalore, May 28 (PTI): The trial run of 'Reach 2' of Namma Metro line of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited is expected to be conducted at the end of this year, a top BMRCL official said here today. "The trial run on Reach 2 of the metro line is expected to be conducted towards the end of this year," BMRCL Managing Director N Sivasailam told reporters here. Sivasailam said work on Reach 2 is on track and that BMRCL is awaiting the Railway Board's clearance to build a bridge over Bangalore-Yeshwanthpur railway line crossing Malleshwaram. "We have written to the Board and are confident getting approval soon," he said. On the status of other Reach of Namma Metro, he said test run on Reach four between K R Road and R V Road line would commence in March or April 2013. "However, actual opening of Reach 4 will take six to nine months after the test run due to underground works," he said. Sivasailam also said work at Majestic station should be over by December 2013. He claimed the signalling systems at Namma Metro are better than the ones in France. Sivasailam said BMRCL has registered a small surplus of Rs five lakh for fiscal 2011-12 within six months of commencing peration. "We are confident of raking in more revenue as and when we open new lines," he said. On the business model of tender for Reach 2,Sivasailam said it was similar to the Reach one, except that the latter has 13 stations compared to six stations. "Rest of the bid parameters are the same. There has been no change in it," he said