Union Urban Development and Information & Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu in Bengaluru today said that the 1st Phase of the Bengaluru Metro rail will become operational by the end of April, 2017. <br/><br/>After having a review meeting with the Metro officials, Mr. Naidu said that the Phase – I of this project has 42 Kms. of metro line of which 32 Kms. is already operational. <br/><br/>The remaining 10 Kms core works of Phase – I have been completed. The final finishing works and road restoration and cleaning works are in the final stages alongside the process of testing and trials have started the Minister said. <br/><br/>He said, it is targeted to open this line by the end of April 2017. With the completion of Phase – 1, the Bengaluru city would get its much needed metro connectivity and the ridership is expected to cross 5 lakhs per day. <br/><br/>Mr. Naidu said, the Centre and the state government have also sanctioned the Phase – 2 metro project having a track length of 72 km at a total investment of Rs.26, 000 crores. The BMRCL is targeting to operationalize the link between Mysore Road and Kanakapura Road by end of 2018.