Latest news with #DarshanDevaiahBP
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
BMTC introduces electric Vayu Vajra buses to Bengaluru airport
Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has launched 320 fully electric air-conditioned buses under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, which will cater to commuters heading to the Kempegowda International Airport and other parts of the city. The new fleet includes 235 buses for Vajra city services, and 85 for Vayu Vajra airport services. In the first phase, 10 electric Vayu Vajra buses will be deployed from August 14, operating on 11 routes connecting different parts of Bengaluru to Kempegowda International Airport. On August 14, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy flagged off the airport electric buses at the Bengaluru airport. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy @RLR_BTM flagged off 10 new AC electric 'Vayu Vajra' buses to #Bengaluru Airport. Part of BMTC's 320-bus e-fleet plan, the zero-emission coaches feature CCTV, USB charging, wheelchair access & enhanced safety. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 14, 2025 According to BMTC officials, these 12-metre, zero-emission buses are equipped with a 283 kWh battery, offering a range of up to 225 km per day. Passenger-friendly features include 35 high-back seats, wheelchair access, USB charging ports, CCTV cameras, panic buttons, kneeling mechanisms, and voice-enabled LED destination boards. 'Safety systems such as fire detection, rear camera reverse assist, and regenerative braking are also incorporated,' an official said. 'Currently, 156 Vayu Vajra schedules run 1,061 one-way trips daily, covering 50,776 km, and serving about 14,000 passengers. The addition of electric buses is expected to improve comfort, reduce emission, and enhance operational efficiency,' the official added. BMTC has established opportunity charging points at key locations, including Central Silk Board, Kadugodi Bus Stand, Depot-7, and KIA. At the airport, nine chargers with a total capacity of 240 kW have been installed at P7 parking, powered by a 1,400 KVA high-tension connection. 'The ₹1.5-crore infrastructure investment by BMTC was supported by the airport authority, which provided space free of cost,' the official explained. BMTC has an average daily ridership of 44 lakh across 6,217 buses, including 1,535 electric vehicles.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Bengaluru Yellow Line metro: Coaches for fourth train set begin arriving in city
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received another addition to its Yellow Line fleet, with one coach of the fourth train-set reaching the Hebbagodi depot in Bengaluru from Titagarh Rail Systems Limited's factory in Kolkata on August 12 night. The fourth trainset's one axle for #BengaluruMetro's Yellow Line reached Hebbagodi depot today from Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd, Kolkata, @OfficialBMRCL said.@the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 13, 2025 According to BMRCL officials, the remaining five coaches of the train set are in transit. 'Three coaches are currently at various locations on the city's outskirts on road and may arrive at the depot tonight, while two others are in Andhra Pradesh and are expected to reach the depot by August 14 night,' a senior official told The Hindu. Once all coaches are assembled at the depot, they will undergo 20-day testing before being introduced into commercial service. 'The train set must undergo various kinds of tests, including system integration with signalling, telecommunications, and power supply networks,' the official added. The Yellow Line, inaugurated on August 10 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began commercial operations on August 11 with only three trains in service. The limited fleet has resulted in a waiting period of over 25 minutes during peak hours, leading to overcrowding. The new trainset is expected to help improve frequency, though BMRCL will require more sets to meet optimal service levels. Driverless trains The corridor's trains are equipped with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, enabling driverless operations, a first for Namma Metro. CBTC is designed to reduce the interval between trains from the current 150 seconds to as low as 90 seconds. However, during the initial period, trained locomotive pilots are being deployed to operate the trains manually. The 18.82-km Yellow Line, linking R.V. Road to Bommasandra, is an important addition to the Namma Metro network, connecting southern neighbourhoods and the Electronics City to the rest of Bengaluru's metro network. While the line's civil works were completed nearly a year ago, commissioning was delayed primarily due to setbacks in procuring the driverless trainsets. In 2019, Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 coaches, with the condition that it establish a manufacturing facility in India. CRRC failed to meet this requirement, prompting BMRCL to issue several notices and consider invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee. To revive the situation, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, enabling production. Despite this arrangement, delivery schedules have continued to slip, forcing BMRCL to open the Yellow Line with a minimal fleet. On August 11, a day after the launch of the Yellow Line, Namma Metro achieved its highest-ever single-day ridership. Total boardings across all three operational lines reached 10,48,031 passengers, according to BMRCL data. The Purple Line (Line 1) accounted for 4,51,816 commuters, the Green Line (Line 2) recorded 2,91,677 boardings, and the newly inaugurated Yellow Line (Line 3) welcomed 52,215 passengers on its first day of commercial service. Interchange stations handled an additional 2,52,323 passengers. The previous record was set on June 4, when 9,66,732 people travelled by metro when only the Purple and Green lines, covering 76.95 km, were operational, a senior BMRCL official said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
BMTC launches new metro feeder routes for Bengaluru's Yellow Line
The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has introduced new metro feeder services to enhance last-mile connectivity for passengers using the recently opened Yellow Line. The new services, operational from Tuesday, will connect six metro stations — Hosur Road, Beratena Agrahara, Electronics City, Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara, Hebbagodi, and Bommasandra — through four routes, operated by 12 buses making 96 trips daily. With Namma Metro's #YellowLine now operational, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy @RLR_BTM today launched extended metro feeder bus services to stations along the new corridor to boost first- and last-mile connectivity.@the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 12, 2025 According to a release, the feeder routes include MF-22, MF-22A, MF-22B, and MF-22C, covering key areas such as Electronics City Wipro Gate, Kodathi Wipro, Bommasandra, and Konappana Agrahara. These services are expected to significantly benefit commuters travelling in and around the Electronics City corridor, one of Bengaluru's busiest tech hubs. 'BMTC, which operates an average of 44 lakh passenger trips daily through 6,217 buses, has been expanding its metro feeder network since October 2023. Services were first launched at K.R. Puram railway station and BTM Layout bus stand, and have since grown to 45 routes and 214 schedules, carrying over 1.2 lakh passengers daily,' Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said after the launch of the feeder services. In Electronics City area alone, BMTC runs 3,000 trips on 100 routes, catering to 14,000 passengers per day. 'The corporation has also introduced QR code-based information systems at metro bus stops and inside trains, enabling commuters to access feeder bus schedules, live tracking, and other travel details on their phones,' Mr. Reddy added. Commuters have also welcomed the new feeder services. Mukund K. from the Save Sarjapura Association said: 'The recent addition of MF-22 and MF-22A routes is a huge boost to connectivity between the Hosur Road (Yellow) metro line and sections of Sarjapur Road. While this is a good start, the number of buses must be gradually increased to improve adoption.' 'We have also conveyed to the Transport Minister that the Dommasandra area of Sarjapur is experiencing extremely high growth due to the presence of the largest school district, along with its connectivity to Whitefield via SH-35 and to Electronics City via SH-168. BMTC should create a metro feeder route connecting Bommasandra metro to Dommasandra,' Mr. Mukund added.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Uber launches India's first dedicated Uber Black pickup zone at Bengaluru airport
Uber, in partnership with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), introduced India's first dedicated Uber Black pickup zones at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), enhancing the premium travel experience for passengers at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The initiative, launched on August 11, also covers Uber Comfort rides. It is aimed at offering a seamless transition between air and ground travel, according to Uber. Uber launches India's first @Uber_India Black pickup zones at Bengaluru Airport's Terminal 1 & Terminal 2 in partnership with @BLRAirport today. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 11, 2025 The new zones feature enhanced amenities such as water dispensers, charging stations, a staffed helpdesk kiosk, and trained on-ground personnel to assist passengers. Uber stated that high-rated drivers and well-appointed vehicles are part of the service, ensuring a more refined commuting option for airport travellers. This marks the ride-hailing company's first-ever Uber Black zone at any airport in India. Arnab Kumar, Director of Business Development for Uber India and South Asia, said, 'Bengaluru airport is one of the busiest and most important airports in India. With the introduction of Uber Black pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort, we are enhancing the travel experience from the moment passengers step out of the terminal.' A BIAL spokesperson said, 'The dedicated pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort are a step forward in our vision to deliver seamless, high-quality experiences at every stage of travel.' KIA, which handled over 41.88 million passengers in FY 2024–25, is the busiest airport in south India, and the third largest in India. It recently surpassed 350 million cumulative passengers since its inauguration, and remains India's leading airport for perishable cargo for the fourth consecutive year.
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Bengaluru metro facilitates organ transport for transplant
For the first time, Bengaluru's Namma Metro successfully facilitated the transportation of an organ via metro train on Friday. Officials from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said the operation was executed with clockwork precision. For the 1st time ever, #NammaMetro facilitated organ transport in #Bengaluru A donated liver was swiftly moved from Whitefield to RR Nagar via metro, saving crucial time for a life-saving transplant. 2nd such instance in #India. @the_hindu@ — Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) August 2, 2025 A donated human liver, intended for transplant, was transported from Vydehi Hospital in Whitefield to Sparsh Hospital in Rajarajeshwari (R.R.) Nagar using a combination of ambulance and metro train. The liver was moved in an ambulance from Vydehi Hospital to the Whitefield Metro Station at 8.38 p.m. by a team comprising one doctor and seven medical staff. 'Upon arrival at the station, the medical team was received by an Assistant Security Officer (ASO) and metro personnel, who facilitated documentation and security checks. The organ was then swiftly transported on a metro train that departed Whitefield at 8.42 p.m. and arrived at R.R. Nagar Metro Station at 9.48 p.m.,' an official said. Green corridor Green corridors were created to cover the distance from the hospital to the metro station in Whitefield and from the metro station to the hospital in R.R. Nagar. At the destination, another team of metro officials and security personnel assisted the medical team in transferring the organ to a waiting ambulance. 'It was then safely delivered to Sparsh Hospital in time for a life-saving transplant procedure,' the officials added. According to BMRCL, the entire operation was carried out under guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and as per the Joint Procedure Order (JPO) of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The organ-carrying team covered the entire 31-km journey in less than an hour — a trip that could have taken over three hours by road on a congested Friday evening. Young donor, young recipient The donated liver — retrieved from a 24-year-old accident victim whose family generously donated the organs — was urgently needed by a critical patient at Sparsh Hospital, R.R. Nagar. The recipient, a young male suffering from severe hepatitis-related liver failure, had been on the transplant waiting list for over two months, desperately hoping for a suitable match. 'Time was of the essence. If we had taken the road, the organ could have been wasted due to heavy weekend traffic. The Metro transport gave us the fastest and safest option. We are deeply grateful to the BMRCL and SOTTO Karnataka for their swift and wholehearted support,' said Mahesh Gopasetty, senior consultant, Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery at the hospital. The complex transplant surgery, conducted overnight, concluded successfully around 3 a.m. on Saturday. The patient is currently in the ICU, stable and under post-operative care.
