Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda inspected the seven point five km Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere stretch of the Bengaluru Metro Pink Line on September two and said the section was ready for inauguration, with the state hopeful of a date from the Centre in September. He, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and other officials undertook a trial run and reviewed preparations for opening. BMRCL officials indicated works on the elevated stretch were complete.

BMRCL is awaiting railway sanction for new rolling stock, followed by authorisation from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety before passenger services can begin. The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety inspected trainsets at Kothanur depot on August 13, reviewing braking, doors and emergency evacuation systems. Authorities said the inspection report was expected this week and final CMRS approval is required before commercial operations.

BEML has supplied eight driverless?capable trainsets for the stretch and the trains were said to have around seventy per cent local content, supporting Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Unattended Train Operation (UTO). The sets are undergoing prescribed trials and must complete the mandatory 750?km running before deployment. Train operators have been identified and their training was expected to be completed this week. Station systems include Communication?Based Train Control signalling and an Automatic Fare Collection system integrated with the National Common Mobility Card.

The seven point five km elevated section runs from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere with stations at Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIM?Bangalore, JP Nagar fourth Phase, Jayadeva Hospital and Swagath Road Cross, and is expected to ease congestion on Bannerghatta Road. Records show delays pushed the cost of Phase one from Rs 6,395 crore in 2005 to Rs 14,133 crore and Phase two from Rs 26,405 crore in 2014 to Rs 40,614 crore; these figures convert to million (mn): Rs 63,950 mn, Rs 141,330 mn, Rs 264,050 mn and Rs 406,140 mn respectively. Surya indicated he had spoken to CMRS officials, expected rolling stock approval within 15 days and urged adherence to the timeline toward an inauguration by the end of September.