Bengaluru: India’s IT capital of Bengaluru yesterday became the second city in India (after New Delhi) and the first in South India, to have a full-fledged Metro rail in operation following the opening of a final 12-km section of the 42-km first phase of the  Metro project.

The first phase, comprising an 18-km east-west line and a 24-km north-south line, built at a cost of Rs. 13,845 crore, was dedicated to the nation by President Pranab Mukherjee at an event in Bengaluru. As many as five lakh people are expected to use phase 1 of the Bengaluru Metro on a daily basis.

President Mukherjee unveiled a plaque at Vidhana Soudha and waved off the symbolic green flag for the first train to run between Mantri Square Sampige Road station and Yelachenahalli. The commissioning of this 11.3 km of the Green Line with an interchange at Kempegowda Metro Station will ensure fast and smooth interconnectivity between North, South, East and West of Bengaluru.