Bengaluru's Kamaraj Road Reopens As Namma Metro's Nagawara-Kalena Agrahara Pink Line Sees Progress

A section of Kamaraj Road, closed for Namma Metro's underground construction works on the Nagawara-Kalena Agrahara Pink Line since June 2019, is set to partially reopen after a hiatus of five years.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had utilized the stretch from the Cauvery Emporium junction to the Cubbon Road junction to construct an interchange MG Road Metro underground station, which will connect to the existing operational elevated station.

The closure of this road segment had posed challenges for commuters, necessitating longer routes to reach popular destinations like Brigade Road and Commercial Street. With the civil works on the underground station nearing completion, BMRCL now plans to undertake restoration work before partially reopening the road to traffic by April. The underground station, featuring four entry/exit points, will integrate with the elevated station.

"The new underground station has been constructed directly beneath Kamaraj Road at two levels. Two tunnel-boring machines, launched from Shivajinagar, excavated via MG Road and reached the Rashtriya Military School station. The interchange facility between the Pink and Purple Lines will significantly benefit passengers," stated a BMRCL official.

"As the construction works near completion, the roads acquired for construction purposes will be restored. Initially, one side of Kamaraj Road with two lanes will be opened to the public. The other side of the road will be required to facilitate machinery movement within the underground station for a certain period," the official further elaborated.

While specifics regarding which side of the road will be opened remain unclear, there's a possibility that traffic may be allowed in both directions on that side. Additionally, BMRCL is undertaking efforts to beautify the stretch, although the project necessitated the removal of numerous well-grown trees along the 200-meter stretch.