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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Bengaluru metro's Yellow Line to be inaugurated on Sunday: Why the project was delayed for years
After eight years of delays, Bengaluru metro network's much-anticipated 19.15-km Yellow Line will finally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (August 10). The corridor connects RV Road and Bommasandra, linking south Bengaluru to key manufacturing and tech firms at Electronic City, including Infosys, Biocon, and TCS. With 16 stations, the new line will expand Bengaluru's metro network to 96 km and is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, especially near the Silk Board junction. The project was delayed due to a host of issues ranging from land acquisition delays to rolling stock production problems compounded by the Indo-China conflict. Here is a look at how the project went off track and eventually reached completion. Missed deadlines & bottlenecks The Yellow Line was originally outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2011, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,255 crore and a targeted completion date of March 2016. Construction began in 2017 with a revised deadline of December 2021 and an updated budget of Rs 5,744 crore. What followed was a series of bureaucratic delays, supply chain setbacks, and leadership lapses that repeatedly derailed the project timeline. Civil work gained momentum in 2018-19, but land acquisition delays began affecting project schedules. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic further stalled progress, causing widespread disruption in supply chains and manpower. Geopolitical tensions between India and China following the 2020 Galwan clash delayed the supply of rolling stock from CRRC Nanjing, the Chinese train manufacturer. To tackle this issue, the government revised its strategy and directed CRRC to partner with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd to manufacture the trains domestically. However, this localisation brought its own challenges: production line delays, visa issues for CRRC engineers, and hold-ups in delivering the Train Control and Management System (TCMS) software by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) further pushed the project timeline into uncertainty. Attempt to fast-track the project At this point, Bangalore South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya pressed both state and central authorities to fast-track the remaining work. In 2023, he launched a campaign advocating for the appointment of a full-time managing director (MD) for BMRCL. After three months of sustained lobbying and meetings with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the state government, a dedicated MD was finally appointed — freeing up much-needed executive bandwidth to resolve bottlenecks. Meanwhile, the Yellow Line's cost escalated to Rs 7,610 crore — about Rs 400 crore per km, representing a 32% increase from BMRCL's original estimate. Finally, CRRC delivered its first six-coach prototype (driverless with CBTC) train set in February 2024. Through collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Union Finance Ministry, issues related to visas and customs clearance for CRRC engineers and imported components were resolved to speed up coach production at the Titagarh factory. On January 6, 2025, the first train set was rolled out and dispatched from Titagarh Rail Systems, followed by a second train set that arrived at Bengaluru's Hebbagodi depot on February 9. Between April and May, six additional coaches reached Bengaluru, bringing the total to three train sets and prompting BMRCL to accelerate preparations for commercial operations. Despite these advancements, BMRCL had not committed to an official launch date by mid-2025 due to delays in receiving the Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) report, which would allow BMRCL to request a Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) inspection. The ISA report was delayed due to technical glitches discovered during the review of key datasets, requiring software updates. Without this report, BMRCL could not proceed with the mandatory CMRS inspection. However, ISA clearance was granted on July 19, after which CMRS inspection was requested. Green light for commercial operations On August 1, the CMRS cleared the Yellow Line for revenue operations but flagged several issues, including unauthorised welding work, incomplete structural tests, non-functional lifts, and incorrect signage at some stations. On August 2, Union Minister for Home and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Prime Minister Modi would inaugurate the Yellow Line connecting RV Road to Bommasandra and lay the foundation stone for the 44.65-km Phase-3 expansion of Bengaluru Metro on August 10. Currently, BMRCL plans to operate the Yellow Line from Monday (August 11) with three trains running at a frequency of 25 minutes from RV Road to Bommasandra. Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Four companies bid for people-mover system at Al-Maktoum International Airport: MEED
Four companies have submitted bids to deliver the automated people-mover system as part of the first phase of the expansion of Al-Maktoum International Airport, according to Dubai-based project intelligence news portal MEED. France's Alstom, China's CRRC, as well as Japan's Hitachi and Mitsubishi Corporation have submitted potential bids to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), the report said. The automated people-mover system will consist of multiple tracks, taking passengers from the terminals to the concourses. The Al-Maktoum International Airport covers an area of 70 square kilometres south of Dubai and will have five parallel runways, five terminal buildings and 400 aircraft gates. (Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Namma Metro Yellow Line: Why the big launch comes with a 'big' wait of 25 minutes?
Bengaluru's much-anticipated Yellow Line of Namma Metro, meant to ease congestion on busy stretches like Silk Board and Bommasandra, is finally set to open. However, the relief may be short-lived for commuters. Trains will run at 25-minute intervals initially, as only three train sets are ready for service. This limited start can carry barely 25,000–30,000 passengers daily, far below the 2–3 lakh capacity promised when the ₹ 400-crore-per-kilometre project was planned. The slow rollout is not due to last-minute lapses, but the result of years of delays caused by the pandemic, red tape, diplomatic hurdles, and supply chain disruptions, according to a report by Times of India. The trouble began in December 2019 when BMRCL awarded Chinese firm CRRC Nanjing Puzhen a contract for 216 coaches. Twelve trains were to be built in China, with the rest manufactured in India under the 'Make in India' plan. CRRC even bought 50 acres in Andhra Pradesh for the factory. By 2021, the plan had stalled. CRRC failed to get the necessary clearances to start production in India. In December that year, BMRCL issued a termination notice, and the matter went to court. In April 2022, Karnataka High Court allowed the contract to continue, with extra time granted to CRRC. The Chinese company partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd in May 2022 to produce 34 trains in India. But geopolitical tensions after the Galwan clash brought new problems — CRRC's engineers could not get visas to enter India for over a year. Without them, key assembly and testing work was stuck. Visas were finally issued in December 2023, allowing CRRC teams to work on-site. The first prototype from China arrived in February 2024 for testing. Indian-made trains started rolling out only in May 2024. As of August 2025, BMRCL has just three train sets. A fourth is expected soon, which could bring down the wait time to 20 minutes. The full fleet of 15 trains which is required for 5-minute peak-time frequency is reportedly expected by March 2026. The Yellow Line uses CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control), a modern signalling system that allows closer train intervals and better energy efficiency. But this system is incompatible with trains on the Purple and Green Lines, which use different technology. Retrofitting would be costly and time-consuming. Moreover, the 57 trains on the existing lines are barely enough for their own schedules, and additional rolling stock there has also been delayed.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Construction sector eyes growth with PML tender
CIMB Research believes the spotlight had shifted to the hotly contested systems package. PETALING JAYA: The construction sector looks poised for a new growth cycle as the systems package for the Penang Mutiara Line (PML) light rail transit (LRT) project approached a critical tender stage, expected to benefit seasoned infrastructure players with proven track records and strong balance sheets. Aimed at transforming Penang's urban mobility, the PML is a 29.5 km LRT system linking Komtar to Silicon Island, with a planned extension to Penang Sentral via a five km long bridge. MRT Corp, the project owner, was set to call for tenders for the bridge section by October 2025, according to a recent media report. Advanced works on the main civil stretch between Komtar and Silicon Island were due to begin this month. CIMB Research believed the spotlight had shifted to the hotly contested systems package, noting: 'Nevertheless, we opine that the near-term focus centres on the highly awaited systems package of the PML that has attracted attention from local and international contractors alike.' It was reported that at least seven consortia submitted bids for the systems contract, which includes rolling stock, signalling, and track components. MRT Corp's stringent eligibility requirements – such as RM500mil worth of urban rail experience in the past decade and local manufacturing presence – helped narrow the field to heavyweights with established rail credentials. The research house observed that 'bids requiring the least financial commitment from the government would gain the upper hand', especially since the contract involved capital expenditure and long-term leasing and maintenance obligations, possibly extending up to 30 years. Among the front-runners, Gamuda Bhd teamed up with China Railway Rolling Stock Corp (CRRC), which operates a plant in Batu Gajah, and Japan's Hitachi for signalling. MMC Engineering partnered with Hyundai Rotem for rolling stock, Hitachi for signalling, and Emrail for track works. YTL Group's consortium included CRRC, Siemens, and Emrail. Other notable bids came from Berjaya Rail with a China-based partner and Hitachi; a joint venture between Lion Pacific and WCT Holdings Bhd involving China High Speed Rail Co, Siemens, and China Harbour Engineering; Malaysian Resource Corp Bhd (MRCB) with Alstom; and Dhaya Maju Infrastructure Asia with Siemens and CRRC. 'Some of the bidders played a leading role during the construction of Klang Valley's urban rail and metro systems,' CIMB Research pointed out, noting that MMC-Gamuda built the Klang Valley's Kajang and Putrajaya mass rapid transit lines, while MRCB was progressing well on Phase 1 of the LRT3 and had secured a RM2.5il turnkey deal for Phase 2. CIMB Research noted that 'the systems package is estimated to cost less than RM3.5bil, although the research house believe the figure could be higher after incorporating the leasing/maintenance components.' With Siemens and Hyundai Rotem having previously assembled MRT rolling stock at the SMH Rail plant in Rawang, local assembly capacity could again prove decisive. MMC Engineering and Hyundai Rotem proposed building a new rolling stock facility in Malaysia, a move that could enhance localisation and ease financing commitments. Despite intense rivalry, CIMB Research flagged a potential surprise: 'While competition remains rife, we postulate that MRCB could emerge as the dark horse for the systems package.' Citing the group's healthy net gearing of 27% and solid infrastructure credentials, the firm noted that MRCB was also 'well-positioned to benefit from the Butterworth link', which could boost the value of its wholly-owned Penang Sentral project. Gamuda, meanwhile, continued to bolster its rail credentials through ongoing civil works on the Komtar–Silicon Island stretch, leveraging its proven track record in delivering turnkey projects domestically and abroad.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From Covid to geopolitics: Here's why you'll wait 25 mins on Bengaluru Metro Yellow Line
The Yellow Line of — a much-awaited corridor meant to decongest traffic-clogged routes like Silk Board and Bommasandra — is finally ready to open. But instead of high-frequency relief, commuters will have to contend with 25-minute gaps between trains. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The reason: only three trains are available for operations at launch. That's barely enough to carry 25,000 to 30,000 passengers per day — a fraction of the 2-3 lakh passenger capacity originally promised. This limited service is not the result of last-minute mismanagement, but a long chain of events involving pandemic-era disruptions, bureaucratic delays, and geopolitical roadblocks — all of which derailed the Metro's train procurement plan. TOI gives you a lowdown on how a project costing nearly Rs 400 crore per kilometre ended up starting with just three trains: CRRC contract that started it all In Dec 2019, BMRCL awarded a contract to CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer, for 216 Metro coaches. The deal required 12 trains to be built in China, while the remaining 204 were to be manufactured in India under the Make in India initiative. CRRC India Pvt Ltd, a local arm of the company, even acquired 50 acres in Andhra Pradesh for this purpose. Pandemic & red tape hit production By mid-2021, things started to unravel. CRRC failed to secure the required clearances to begin construction of its manufacturing facility in India. As delays piled up, BMRCL issued a termination notice in Dec 2021, and the dispute landed in court — Delhi and Karnataka high courts. In April 2022, the Karnataka HC allowed the contract to continue, with BMRCL agreeing to give CRRC more time. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now CRRC then tied up with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd in May 2022 to manufacture 34 trains in India. Geopolitics, visa barriers In May 2022, CRRC entered into a joint production agreement with Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, based in India, to manufacture the 34 CBTC-equipped train sets required for the Yellow Line. However, this solution ran into a new obstacle: CRRC's engineers and technical staff couldn't enter India due to prolonged visa restrictions tied to post-Galwan tensions between India and China. This meant that though production had technically started, key installation, integration, and commissioning tasks remained stalled. It wasn't until Dec 2023 that visas were finally issued to CRRC personnel, allowing them to travel to India and begin working on the trains. Staggered rollout, delays BMRCL received the first prototype train from China in Feb 2024 and began necessary testing. But the Indian-manufactured trains didn't begin rolling out until May 2024, once CRRC and its equipment suppliers were on the ground. As of Aug 2025, only three train sets are in BMRCL's hands. A fourth train is expected soon, which could reduce the waiting time to 20 minutes. But the full fleet of 15 trains — needed to deliver 5-minute frequencies during peak hours — is expected only by March 2026. Why existing trains can't be shared One oft-asked question is why can't BMRCL use existing trains from other lines it operates to ease the pressure until new trains arrive. Here's why: The Yellow Line uses a different signalling system called CBTC or Communications-Based Train Control — continuous, two-way radio communication between trains and wayside equipment to manage traffic and infrastructure. This modern system on the Yellow Line allows for higher frequencies and better energy efficiency but requires dedicated rolling stock. That means trains from other lines cannot be borrowed without extensive — and costly — retrofitting. Also, Namma Metro's existing lines (Purple & Green) have only 57 train sets, just about sufficient to run those operations. Induction of additional trains there have been delayed too. Expectations Vs operational reality The Yellow Line was billed as a game-changer — a critical Metro spine running through one of Bengaluru's busiest tech and industrial corridors. With IT professionals, industrial workers, and daily commuters relying heavily on overburdened roads and buses, expectations were sky-high. But the decision to launch the line with such limited service has raised eyebrows. While BMRCL is keen to showcase construction completion and infrastructure readiness, critics argue that opening a Metro line without adequate train availability sends the wrong message and risks eroding public trust. The Yellow Line's sluggish start is a result of a procurement process deeply entangled in global supply chain shocks, international diplomacy, and bureaucratic delays, and slow completion of infrastructure work by BMRCL.
