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The long-awaited Namma Metro Yellow Line in Bengaluru, which is expected to make travel easier in the city's southern areas, might get delayed once again. Although many steps have been completed, the final approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is still pending. Officials now hope the line may start by the end of May or in June.
CMRS Approval Still Pending
The Yellow Line is planned to run 19.15 km from RV Road to Bommasandra, helping thousands of daily commuters, especially in the busy IT areas. The Railway Board has already approved the trains, and the inspection of the third train is done. But without the CMRS's final green signal, the metro cannot start. The CMRS review is now the most important step, and its date is yet to be confirmed. The review will check the tracks, stations, train sets, fire safety, and all entry and exit points.
Train Set Shortage Delaying Operations
One of the major reasons for the delay is the slow delivery of train sets. Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) had ordered 36 train sets (216 coaches) from a Chinese company, CRRC Kampan, in 2019. The deal was worth ₹1,578 crore and included building some of the train sets in India. But so far, only three train sets have arrived. At least eight are needed to start the line. Without enough trains, it is difficult to begin services.
Earlier, the company was expected to deliver one train each month, like another company named Titagarh had done. But the delays in setting up production in India have slowed everything down. More trains are expected soon, but their arrival, inspection, and approval will take time.
Basic Infrastructure is Ready
Tracks, metro stations, and electrical work are already complete. However, BMRCL can't start the service without enough trains and the final inspection. If the next sets of trains arrive on time and inspections go well, commercial services may start in June. But with the current number of trains, a July start looks more possible.
Hopes Still High
Even though the wait continues, BMRCL is trying hard to speed up the process. The Yellow Line is very important for people in southern Bengaluru, and once it starts, it will make daily travel much smoother.
The delay in getting train sets and final inspection approvals has slowed down the Yellow Line project. But once all checks are done and more trains arrive, Bengaluru will see a major improvement in metro connectivity.
