Bangalore will become the third Indian city after Kolkata and Delhi to start operating Metro Train Services Commercially

 The dreams of tens of thousands of traffic-weary commuters in Bangalore to travel by the metro rail came closer to reality on Monday when Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) conducted the longest yet technical test run of the train.

People looked up to see the train, with three coaches in tow, cruise on the new tracks between the Byappanahalli and C.M.H. Road stations, a distance of about 2 km, on Monday afternoon, marking a major milestone on the road to the metro in Bangalore.

Restricted speed

The train, which moved at a restricted speed of 25 kmph, also did the second test run on the same tracks with several BMRCL workers on board. “It passed off well. We did not encounter any teething problems. The train ran for 8 km and we are satisfied,” BMRCL spokesperson B.L. Yasavanth Chavan told The Hindu. “Along with the tracks, we had to check the third rail, which is adjacent to the main tracks, used to energise the train,” he added.