Bengaluru metro's Yellow Line gets safety clearance from CMRS for operations

The Hindu

3 days ago

Bengaluru's long-awaited Yellow Line of the Namma Metro corridor has finally cleared a crucial hurdle, with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) receiving the statutory safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), Southern Circle. This development brings the metro a step closer in the journey to operationalise the 19.15-km stretch connecting R.V. Road in South Bengaluru to Bommasandra.
Speaking to The Hindu, Yashwanth Chavan, chief public relations officer of BMRCL, confirmed that the CMRS has issued the mandatory safety certification necessary for passenger services to begin on the new route.
Another senior BMRCL official said that the clearance comes with certain conditions, which must be fulfilled before commercial operations can commence. 'The CMRS typically makes a series of observations and recommendations during inspection. Once we comply with all the directives, we will submit a compliance report. Only after receiving final clearance can passenger operations begin,' the official told The Hindu.
The CMRS inspection, led by A.M. Chowdhary, took place over three days starting July 22. The review covered all aspects of safety and readiness, including power supply systems, signalling, tracks and viaducts, curves, fire safety measures, passenger information systems, and amenities at the metro stations.
Will PM Modi launch new line?
While a formal date for the line's inauguration has not yet been finalised, BMRCL is working towards an August 15 launch. 'We have informed both the State and Central governments about receiving safety clearance, as per protocol,' another official said.
Regarding reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend the inauguration, an official said it is subject to his schedule. However, there is no official confirmation of his participation yet.
Initially, limited services are expected, with three driverless trains operating at a 20-minute frequency. BMRCL plans to gradually scale up to full-fledged operations with peak hour frequencies of five minutes or less by March 2026.
Delayed project
The Yellow Line passes through several high-density areas, including Central Silk Board, HSR Layout, and Electronics City, making it a vital corridor for commuters and tech workers in the city. The line was originally scheduled to open in 2021, but missed multiple deadlines, the most recent being a revised target of June 2024.
Delays were primarily due to complications in procuring rolling stock. In 2019, BMRCL awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to Chinese firm CRRC to supply 216 coaches and set up a manufacturing unit in India. However, CRRC failed to meet contractual obligations, severely hampering the project's timeline. This led BMRCL to issue several warnings and explore invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
To revive progress, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited. This collaboration allowed deliveries to resume, though at a slower pace than originally planned. So far, BMRCL has received three train sets for the Yellow Line. A fourth train is currently undergoing trials at the Titagarh facility and is expected to be shipped by July 28, reaching Bengaluru around August 12.