Commuters frustrated as Namma Metro's Yellow Line set to open without adequate trains
The 19.15-km stretch, connecting R.V. Road and Bommasandra in South Bengaluru, will see trains running only every 25 minutes initially, a gap that many say will make the service nearly unusable during peak hours.
'I was hopeful that once the Yellow Line opened, I could stop depending on my bike to commute to Electronics City. But with trains every 25 minutes and the expected crowd, this is going to be a nightmare,' said Murlidhar K.M., a resident of BTM Layout.
Kavya Kumari, who lives near Bommanahalli, said: 'This looks like another case of ribbon-cutting culture. If the full-fledged service won't start until next year, what is the use? Public transport should prioritise public need, not political events.'
On Sunday, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar announced the opening on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the ₹5,056.99-crore project, with 16 stations, is ready for launch. The line is seen as a critical link for thousands of tech workers and residents along Hosur Road, BTM Layout, Silk Board, and Electronics City.
Shortage of trains
However, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials admitted that the line will not operate at full capacity immediately owing to a shortage of trains. Only three train sets have arrived so far, and a fourth is undergoing trials at Titagarh in West Bengal, and it is expected to arrive in Bengaluru by August 12.
'Ridership is expected to be low in the initial days. We hope to gradually increase the frequency and availability of trains. Once full-fledged operations begin, likely only by next year with 15 trains, we anticipate a ridership of at least 2 lakh passengers daily. The fourth train, once it arrives at the depot, will also have to undergo several tests. After around 15 days, we expect to induct it into service. In the following months, more trains will be added to the Yellow Line, and the current 25-minute gap between trains will be reduced,' a BMRCL official said.
The line has been under construction since 2017 and has suffered multiple delays. Civil works, originally slated for completion by early 2023, were completed only in 2024, largely owing to delays in the delivery of rolling stock.
In 2019, BMRCL awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to Chinese firm CRRC to supply 216 coaches and build a local manufacturing facility. But CRRC failed to meet its contractual obligations, causing major delays. BMRCL had to consider invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
To revive the situation, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems, which eventually resumed deliveries though far slower than scheduled.
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