Namma Metro Yellow Line Launch Postponed? DK Shivakumar Speaks on August 10 Inauguration

The long-delayed RV Road-Bommasandra Yellow Line of Namma Metro in Bengaluru is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10. However, officials have confirmed that the line will not be fully operational immediately due to a shortage of trains, raising concerns among daily commuters.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who inspected the Yellow Line on Tuesday, admitted that technical issues have delayed full-scale operations.

"It is not the wait, it is a technical issue. I am bound to resolve the issue. We have to see that this train runs. Three more trains are supposed to come and then the frequency will be 20 to 25 minutes. Before the PM comes and inaugurates, we have done a lot of work," Shivakumar said.

The Yellow Line, which spans 19.15 km and connects RV Road to Bommasandra in South Bengaluru, is expected to ease travel for thousands working in and around Electronics City, BTM Layout, Silk Board, and Hosur Road. Despite its significance, commuters are expressing frustration as the line will initially see trains operating only every 25 minutes.

The inauguration is expected to be a high-profile event. Along with launching the Yellow Line, the Prime Minister is also likely to flag off the extended Vande Bharat Express to Belagavi on the same day. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya is leading the preparations, and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar confirmed the Yellow Line's inauguration in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

According to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), only three train sets are currently available. A fourth is undergoing trials at Titagarh in West Bengal and is expected to arrive in Bengaluru by August 12, after the inauguration.

"Ridership is expected to be low in the initial days. We hope to gradually increase frequency. Once full-fledged operations begin, likely by next year with 15 trains, we anticipate ridership of at least 2 lakh passengers daily," a BMRCL official said.

The ₹5,056.99-crore project has been under construction since 2017 and has faced multiple delays. Civil works were supposed to be completed by early 2023 but were pushed back to 2024 due to issues in the delivery of rolling stock.

In 2019, BMRCL signed a ₹1,578-crore contract with Chinese firm CRRC to supply 216 coaches and build a local manufacturing unit. CRRC failed to meet its commitments, resulting in major setbacks. The BMRCL even considered invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee. Eventually, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems, which resumed deliveries, albeit at a slow pace.

For now, commuters will have to adjust to the limited service, with officials assuring that train frequency will improve in the coming months.