Namma Metro Yellow Line Delayed: Phased Launch Expected As Trains Arrive Slowly

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is formulating a contingency plan for the delayed launch of the Namma Metro Yellow Line, which was originally set to open in December 2021. With the revised deadline now extended to December 2024, BMRCL is considering a phased rollout due to ongoing delays in train deliveries, according to a Moneycontrol report.

The 19-km Yellow Line, which will connect RV Road to Bommasandra near Electronics City, may see partial operations starting in late 2024 or early 2025. BMRCL officials are exploring the option of initiating services with limited trains and opening select stations initially, including Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara, Central Silk Board, BTM Layout, and Jayadeva Hospital. This approach aims to reduce traffic congestion on Hosur Road while waiting for additional train deliveries.

BMRCL plans to operate three trains with a frequency of one train every 30 minutes initially. The interval will be shortened as more trains are delivered by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), based in Kolkata, the company contracted to supply the metro trains.

BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao, who visited TRSL's manufacturing facility in May 2024, stated that at least five trains are needed to achieve a 20-minute interval between trains. However, as of June 2024, TRSL has not delivered the required six-coach trains, affecting the line's full operational capacity.

The delays are attributed to multiple factors, including TRSL's shift to manufacturing stainless steel coaches, quality control issues, supply chain disruptions due to Indo-China border tensions, and challenges related to the Make in India initiative. Additional setbacks include complications with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and delays in acquiring propulsion components.

Meanwhile, trial runs are underway using a prototype train that arrived in Bengaluru earlier this year, overseen by the Research, Design, and Standards Organisation (RDSO) to ensure compliance before the metro's official launch.