Krishna Byre Gowda, the Bengaluru development minister, inspected the seven point five kilometre Kalena Agrahara-Tavarekere stretch of the Pink Line on September two and indicated the section was ready for inauguration, with the state government hopeful of a central government date in September. The minister, joined by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, MLA M Krishnappa, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director PC Jaffer and other officials, undertook a trial run and reviewed opening preparations. Officials said BMRCL is awaiting railway sanction for new rolling stock followed by authorisation from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) before passenger services can begin. Janak Kumar Garg, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, who holds additional charge as CMRS for the Southern Circle, inspected trainsets on August 13; the depot review at Kothanur covered braking, speed, door, emergency evacuation and suspension system checks and a report was expected this week. A BMRCL statement said the trains manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) contain around seventy per cent local content and are equipped to support Automatic Train Operation and advanced Unattended Train Operation enabling driverless running. Sufficient trainsets are available for the elevated stretch and the sets must complete the mandatory seven hundred and fifty kilometre running before deployment, while train operator training is scheduled to conclude this week. The seven point five kilometre elevated section will include 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 and improve south Bengaluru connectivity. BEML has delivered eight driverless capable trainsets for the stretch, though the agency and the project have repeatedly missed deadlines and delays pushed Phase one costs from Rs 63.95 billion (bn) in 2005 to Rs 141.33 bn and Phase two costs from Rs 264.05 bn in 2014 to Rs 406.14 bn in 2024.