Bengaluru: India’s tech capital Friday joined the 100-km Metro rail network club, with the inauguration of a 7.5-km stretch of the Pink Line that took its operational network to 103km — the country’s second-largest after Delhi (416km). Mumbai is third with 101km of operational network.PM Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and SG Palya, said: “We’ve been continuously scoring centuries. After Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru has become the third city in the country to cross the 100km Metro network mark.”Modi also virtually flagged off the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express.BMRCL will begin commercial operations on the new Metro stretch from today (Nov 14). Fares will range from Rs 10 to Rs 30 for the six-stations that are now operational. BMRCL plans to deploy five trainsets, with one on standby. Trains will initially run at eight-minute intervals during peak hours.The elevated section is part of the 21-km Pink Line, connecting Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north. The remaining underground section on this line between Dairy Circle and Nagawara is expected to open next year.Modi spoke at IIM-B after flagging off the inaugural train from SG Palya near Dairy Circle. The Centre, he said, has prioritised infrastructure development in Bengaluru, recognising its role as an engine of economic growth and innovation, Modi.He travelled to the Bilekahalli-IIMB station, accompanied by chief minister DK Shivakumar, Governor Sudha Yadav, and other dignitaries. The PM used a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for the journey.The PM began his address by greeting the gathering in Kannada. Before boarding, the PM was briefed on the Metro network, ongoing projects and passenger information systems, including real-time BMTC bus arrival updates near Metro stations to help commuters plan their onward journeys.Six-level structure at JayadevaShivakumar and Greater Bengaluru Development minister Krishna Byre Gowda explained the engineering complexities of the six-level structure at the Jayadeva interchange station, which integrates the Pink and Yellow lines with a double-decker road. At 38 metres, it is among the tallest Metro stations in the country and has been designed as a major multimodal interchange point.Jayadeva will be Bengaluru’s third major Metro interchange after Majestic and RV Road. It is expected to improve connectivity along Bannerghatta Road, linking commuters to the Electronics City corridor through the Yellow Line and the central business district.Nine years in the makingFriday’s inauguration marked a milestone for residents along the corridor, but the wait has been long. Sanctioned 12 years ago and taken up for construction in 2017, the elevated stretch took nine years to complete.PM hails push for energy securityModi said the recently introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai would boost rail connectivity in Karnataka. He also highlighted station redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, aimed at providing airport-like facilities and modern amenities.On energy security, he cited the Mangaluru LPG project, Devangonthi marketing terminal, and a Bengaluru compressed biogas plant set to produce 13 tonnes daily.Highlighting solar initiatives, Modi said over 60 lakh households, including more than 40,000 in Karnataka, had installed rooftop solar panels under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, receiving around Rs 80,000 in central assistance per household.Points for GFXCOMMERCIAL RUN FROM TODAY* 7.5-km Pink Line stretch takes Namma Metro operational network to 103km, nation’s second-largest after Delhi.* New elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and SG Palya has 6 stations* Commercial operations begin today* Fares from Rs 10-30 and trains at eight-minute intervals during peak hours* Remaining underground stretch between Dairy Circle and Nagawara likely to open in 2027* Six-level Jayadeva interchange, at 38 metres, integrates Pink and Yellow lines with a double-decker road* It connects Bannerghatta Road to Electronics City and the CBD* Elevated stretch, sanctioned 12 years ago, took 9 years to complete
