Bengaluru: The 42.3km stretch of Namma Metro line under Phase-I will not be completed by March 2016 deadline. 
As much as 40km stretch will be finished within the deadline. However, it would require additional two months time to complete the stretch between KR Market and Kempe Gowda Metro stations, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation MD Pradeep Singh Kharola told reporters. on the sideline of a programme.
The four Tunnel Boring Machines Margarita, Krishna, Cauvery and Godavari hold the key for completion of the underground tunnel leading to Kempegowda Interchange Metro station.
Krishna and Kaveri are working parallel in opposite directions from Chikpet to Kempegowda. Godavari is working from Sampige Road to Kempegowda while Margarita is working along the same route in the reverse direction.
“Chickpet is a difficult area as there are many old buildings or those with mud walls and weak foundations. We cannot proceed until any weak parts of critical buildings are attended to,” said Kharola.
Meanwhile, the BMRCL officials said the east-west line between Byappanahalli and Mysuru Road line would be opened by the year-end.
Earlier on Saturday, metro workers celebrated as Margaret tunnel boring machine came out of the Jakkarayanakere Metro junction.
