India has rolled out the first line of the Bangalore Metro from MG Road station, in the city centre, to Baiyappanahalli station in the eastern suburb covering 6.7 km of elevated tracks and four stations.

The stretch is part of the 42.3km first phase of the metro rail project being carried out at a cost of Rs116bn ($2.2bn), comprising of two corridors.

Out of the 42.3km, 8.822km will be underground, while the remaining will be elevated tracks.

The East-West corridor stretches 18.10km from Baiyappanahalli to the Mysore Road terminal while the second section starts from M.G Road station in the city centre and runs to the Baiyappanahalli station in the eastern suburb, covering a distance of 6.7 km.

The standard gauge, 41 station metro rail line is expected to reduce congestion when it is fully completed in 2013.