BMRCL, BMTC signs MoU

Bangalore, Feb 15 (PTI) In a first of its kind initiative,the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) and theBangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) today cametogether and inked an MoU to provide "Common Day Metro-BusTransit Passes" to commuters of the utilities.

Under the Mou signed, two types of daily passes "Saral andSaraag" would be availabe to commuters who can travel by Metroas well as BMTC buses on payment of a prescribed fee for theday.

While Saraag daily pass has been priced at Rs 70, the Saralis at Rs 110, Minister for Home and Transport R Ashoka, whowitnessed the MoU signing ceremony told reporters here.

Saraag pass holders are entitled for limitless trave in allnon-AC buses along wth metro and in Saral, the commuter cantravel by A buses of BMTC including Vajra along with BMTCbuses, but excluding in Vajra and Vayu Vajra, the specialservice being provided to Airport.

The BMTC and BMRCL have identified feeder rotues for itssix metro stations and these services would be provided tocommuters by operating mini-buses.

The Metro will commence operation from April four, Ashokasaid.

BMRCL Chairman Shivashailam said the Metro project would becompleted by 2013 and the work was well on schedule.

The tunnel digging and concreting machine will be deployedon Metro project from Feb 20 with first machine arriving inthe city shortly and the second one will go into operation byMarch 20, he said.

The metro operations can witness a break even commerciallyin about seven to eight years, he said.

Ashoka said the government has shortliested eight firms forthe Rs 1300 crore Integrated Mass Transport System and RFP(Request for Proposal) would be invited within a week.

The project envisages linking of all forms of transportincluding railways, besides creating parking space for morethan 3,000 cars near the City Railway station.

Construction majors like L