Namma Metro Gets First Driverless Train for Silk Board-Airport Blue Line

Namma Metro has received its first six-coach driverless train from Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for the Blue Line connecting Central Silk Board and Kempegowda International Airport, marking a major milestone in the development of Bengaluru's airport metro corridor. The train was handed over to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) as work continues on the Blue Line, which is expected to improve connectivity between the city's IT corridor and the airport.

Manufactured at BEML's Bengaluru facility, the train is equipped with advanced automation, signalling and safety systems and will undergo a series of tests before being cleared for passenger operations.

The Blue Line is one of the most anticipated metro projects in Bengaluru and is being developed in two phases. Phase 2A covers a 19-km stretch between Central Silk Board and K.R. Puram along the Outer Ring Road, a corridor that caters to thousands of commuters working in the city's IT and business hubs.

Once operational, the line is expected to provide a reliable alternative to road transport and ease traffic congestion on the heavily crowded Outer Ring Road stretch.

BEML has been awarded the contract to supply 16 trainsets for the Blue Line. The arrival of the first train marks the beginning of rolling stock deliveries for the project and is expected to help BMRCL begin testing activities well ahead of commercial operations.

BMRCL is targeting the opening of the Central Silk Board-K.R. Puram section by the end of 2026. Civil construction work on stations, viaducts and associated infrastructure is progressing across multiple sections of the corridor.

The second phase of the Blue Line, known as Phase 2B, will extend the metro network from K.R. Puram to Kempegowda International Airport. Once completed, passengers will be able to travel directly between key commercial areas of Bengaluru and the airport using the metro network.

The arrival of the first train is also significant as BMRCL seeks to avoid the rolling stock shortages that delayed the launch of the Yellow Line. By securing train deliveries in advance, the metro operator aims to ensure timely testing and commissioning of the Blue Line.

With train deliveries now underway and construction progressing, the Blue Line is expected to become one of the most important corridors in the Namma Metro network, providing seamless connectivity between Bengaluru's IT belt, residential areas and the international airport.