Yellow Line to open partially in June with limited stops in Bengaluru
As commuters eagerly anticipate the launch of Namma Metro's Yellow Line in Bengaluru, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials have said that the line will begin operations in June, but only with partial service. In a move likely to disappoint many, metro trains will initially stop only at major stations, with full service across all stops expected at a later date.
The Yellow Line, a 19.15-km corridor stretching between R.V. Road and Bommasandra, has been structurally ready for several months. However, its launch has been repeatedly postponed, mainly due to delay in the arrival of the much-needed driverless train sets. Despite these challenges, BMRCL officials have now said that they will commence limited services using just three trains, each running at 30-minute intervals.
'In the initial phase, apart from the terminal stations R.V. Road and Bommasandra, only five key stations will be operational. With just three trains, we can manage one every half-hour. As we receive more train sets, we plan to increase frequency and progressively open more stations along the route,' said a senior BMRCL official.
Commuters upset
Commuters have expressed their disappointment.
'I was really looking forward to using the Yellow Line for my daily commute, especially since the BTM Layout station is just a short walk from my house. Now, I'll have to go all the way to Jayadeva or Central Silk Board since these are major stations, which completely defeats the purpose. It's frustrating to wait this long and still not have full service,' said Ramesh Hegde, a software engineer working in Electronics City.
Sneha M., a resident of Kodichikanahalli, said, 'We've seen the metro line built and ready for months, and now, just when it's about to open, they say trains won't stop at all stations. It's very disappointing. There's no proper bus connectivity from my area to Bommanahalli station. I don't even know which stations will be operational. I guess I'll have to rely on my scooter or autos.'
Coach delays
The Yellow Line is critical to connecting southern Bengaluru, including the IT hub in Electronics City, to the rest of the metro network. But the journey to this point has been bumpy.
In 2019, Chinese firm CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 coaches. However, the firm failed to set up a manufacturing facility in India as required, causing major setbacks.
BMRCL issued multiple notices to CRRC and even considered invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
Eventually, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems to complete the contract. This collaboration has somewhat stabilised deliveries, although delays persist.
Trial runs began on March 7, 2024. BMRCL has been testing the network with the two train sets currently available.
Third train set arrives
The third train set arrived at Hebbagodi depot near Electronics City on May 13 night. 'All six cars have been unloaded and we will begin testing from May 15,' an official said.
Two additional train sets are expected to be delivered by the end of July, or early August. Once fully operational, the Yellow Line will be served by a fleet of 15 six-car trains, totalling 90 coaches.
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