The decks have been cleared for the inauguration of the much awaited Bangalore metro services on the 7.5 km reach one first phase between Byappanahalli and M G Road, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda announced here on Wednesday.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) had started civil works on this stretch in April 2007 and has been running behind schedule by over 18 months. Bangalore will become the third Indian city after Kolkata and Delhi to operate the metro.

Speaking at an interaction jointly organised by the Press Club and Bangalore Reports Guild, the Chief Minister disclosed that the Prime Minister had agreed to inaugurate the project in the second week of September. He said the authorities concerned were going all out to remove any lastminute technical glitches. “Development is our mantra and we will work towards achieving it,” Gowda said.