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The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has expanded its Yellow Line fleet with the arrival of a coach from the fourth train set at the Hebbagodi depot in Bengaluru on August 12. The coach was transported from the Titagarh Rail Systems Limited factory in Kolkata, while the remaining five coaches are currently en route to the depot.
According to BMRCL officials, three coaches are already close to Bengaluru and are expected to reach the depot by the end of the day. The final two coaches are presently in Andhra Pradesh and are scheduled to arrive by the evening of August 14. Once all coaches have been delivered, they will undergo a 20-day testing phase before being deployed for passenger service.
Driverless Technology
The Yellow Line trains are equipped with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, allowing for driverless operations-a first for Namma Metro. This system aims to reduce the gap between trains from 150 seconds to as little as 90 seconds. However, during the initial phase, trained operators will be at the controls.
Covering a distance of 18.82 km, the Yellow Line stretches from R.V. Road to Bommasandra, connecting Bengaluru's southern localities and Electronics City to the metro network. While civil construction finished almost a year ago, the line's launch was postponed due to delays in procuring driverless train sets.
Procurement Difficulties
In 2019, Chinese company CRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 coaches and establish a manufacturing unit in India. However, the firm failed to meet this commitment, prompting BMRCL to consider enforcing a ₹372-crore bank guarantee after issuing several notices.
To address the shortfall, CRRC partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems Limited in Kolkata for production. Despite this arrangement, delivery schedules were delayed, forcing BMRCL to commence Yellow Line operations with a reduced number of trains.
Record Ridership Noted
On August 11, following the Yellow Line's launch, Namma Metro recorded its highest-ever single-day ridership, with 10,48,031 passengers across all three operational lines, according to BMRCL.
The Purple Line carried 4,51,816 commuters, while the Green Line saw 2,91,677 boardings. The newly opened Yellow Line drew 52,215 passengers on its first day, and interchange stations handled an additional 2,52,323 travelers.
Previously, the highest ridership was on June 4-when only the Purple and Green Lines were operational over a 76.95 km network-serving 9,66,732 passengers, a senior BMRCL official noted.
While the arrival of new trainsets is expected to enhance Yellow Line frequency, achieving optimal peak-hour service-when wait times can exceed 25 minutes due to heavy demand-will require the addition of more trainsets.
