Bangalore: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation(BMRCL) will conduct trial runs on on the 2.5 km track  of Reach 3B (between Peenya industries to Nagasandra on Tumkur road) in October. In March, Namma Metro started commercial operations between Peenya industrial area and Mantri Square on Sampige Road, a distance of 10.5 km.

There are three stations on Reach 3B, Nagasandra, Dasarahalli and Jalahalli. Civil construction and tracking is complete and it is learnt that the BMRCL will soon approach the commissioner for railway safety to carry out commercial operations after the trial run.

It is reported that the BMRCL is not achieving expected results on reach 3 and 3A. Officials had expected a daily ridership of close to 50,000 but the response has been dismal – the trains run half empty except on weekends. Officials are hoping that once the line gets connected with the Majestic intersection station and extended to Nagasandra the passenger traffic will improve.

BMRCL has also proposed extending the Metro on Tumkur Road till Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) under Phase II. However, BMRCL is expecting a cost-sharing plan with BIEC.

As per the detailed project report, proposals have been made to construct Metro stations at Manjunathnagar, Jindal and the BIEC terminal. Officials feel that traffic would be low on this line initially. BMRCL estimates a spending of Rs 1168.22 crore for this nearly 4 km extension.