A number of people engaged in the Namma Metro construction work have gone to their native places to exercise their franchise during the Lok Sabha elections, thus affecting the work on the ground.

A majority of the 4,000 workers deployed at different worksites of Namma Metro Phase 1, hail from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the surrounding States.

At least 25 per cent of those workers have left Bangalore either on their own or on the invitation of political parties to participate in the polling process, said sources in Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL). As a result, the work has slowed down which may impact completion of project before the scheduled deadline.

However, there is no en masse movement of labourers and the work is in progress, albeit at a slower pace, sources said. Tunnelling work on the North-South corridor between Krishna Floor Mills and Chickpet underground metro station has been affected due to non-availability of skilled workers, they added.

At present, work on laying of tracks and completing station buildings is going on between Magadi Road (Leprosy Hospital) and Mysore Road Terminal (Nayandahalli) on Reach 2 and between K.R. Road and Puttenahalli Cross on Reach 4. Also, tunnelling work on the North-South Corridor as well construction of the underground interchange station at Majestic is also going on.

BMRCL has been striving to get the 18-km East-West Corridor opened for commercial service by this year-end. Tunnelling work on 4.8-km stretch was completed last month leaving the tunnels open for track and other ancillary work. It also has plans to open the entire Phase 1 for public use by March.

BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, told The Hindu that workers would come back after casting their votes and the work will regain its normal pace. Even now no work has stopped, he said, adding that BMRCL will stick to its deadlines.

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Lok Sabha elections affect Namma Metro work