On board wi-fi connectivity is the unique feature of IT hub Bangalore's Metro, the first in the country to have such a facility.

The first 'reach' as it is called of Bangalore metro was inaugurated by Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, with almost every top politician from the state participating in the event.

The metro, the third in the country after Kolkata and Delhi, is still in its infancy, despite having been envisaged as early as in 1983. If the late activist-actor Shankar Nag's plan, conceived and submitted to then chief minister Ramakrisha Hegde, had been implemented, Bangalore would have had a circular rail, suburban rail and metro for just Rs 650 crore. The first reach itself has overshot all estimates and cost over Rs 10,000 crore.

Bangalore's traffic cops admit that the metro's first reach from Byappanahalli in Bangalore east to M G Road in the central business district, is just 'token', as it covers only a small section -- 6.7 km of the sprawling city -- with hardly six stations. The second phase of the project, supposed to be completed by 2014, will cover a more respectable 42.3 km and connect most parts of the city's centre and some suburbs, in contrast to the over 200 km covered by Delhi metro.

Still, the project is a long-standing dream for Bangalore. The thronging crowds at the inauguration and the flush sense of achievement amongst officials who worked hard to push the huge infrastructure project through all kinds of red tape, is evident and justified.

''The Bangalore metro is comparable to any metro in the world, and is even ahead of some of them,'' a proud managing director of Bangalore metro rail corporation limited N Sivasailam stated.

Unlike Delhi metro, which is on broad gauge, the Bangalore metro has been built on standard gauge, the norm the world over. It is supposed to allow greater maneuverability and speed.

The first reach is all elevated, but several kilomitres of the second phase will be underground also, particularly the stretch going under the state secretariat and heritage building, Vidhana Soudha.