The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is planning to begin its Electronics City Metro operations with just three trains by the end of August. Moneycontrol reported citing sources that seven stations are expected to be operational in the first phase: RV Road, Jayadeva Hospital, Central Silk Board, Kudlu Gate, Hosa Road, Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara and Bommasandra. The initial train frequency is likely to be 20 minutes.
The 19-km fully elevated Yellow Line, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra with 16 stations, was originally scheduled for completion in December 2021. However, the project has faced repeated delays.
Recently, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya led a protest demanding immediate commencement of services. BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao, who received a memorandum from the protesters, assured that operations would begin before August 15. But sources now say a late August launch is more realistic.
Only three trains available, five more expected by October
BMRCL is currently short on the number of trains needed for full-scale operations. “We may receive five more CBTC trains by October. With those, we can operate the entire line with 8–9 minute frequency,” a source familiar with the matter revealed to Moneycontrol.
The fourth train from the manufacturing partner Titagarh is expected by mid-August.
Speaking to Moneycontrol, MD Rao confirmed that BMRCL is evaluating two primary options- opening seven stations with a 20-minute frequency or launching the full corridor with 30-minute intervals. “We will consult the state government before finalising the plan,” he said.
BMRCL is waiting for an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) certificate, following which the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) will inspect the line. “Operations can start by the end of August once CMRS gives clearance,” Rao added. The inspection is expected to take at least three days.
Three contingency plans in place
To manage the train crunch, BMRCL has chalked out three contingency plans:
- Operate end-to-end between RV Road and Bommasandra, stopping at seven stations using three trains.
- Operate between Central Silk Board and Bommasandra with all station stops.
- Operate between Ragigudda and Bommasandra to avoid overcrowding at RV Road station, which connects with Purple and Green Lines.
PM Modi likely to inaugurate line
Officials told Moneycontrol that they intend to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Yellow Line. “It’s a significant standalone corridor connecting the Electronics City IT hub. We also hope he will inaugurate the Nagasandra–Madavara Green Line extension and lay the foundation for Phase 3,” said a senior BMRCL official.
Phase 3 of the Bengaluru Metro includes two corridors of the Orange Line – the 32.1 km JP Nagar 4th Phase–Kempapura stretch along ORR West and the 12.5 km Hosahalli–Kadabagere line along Magadi Road, totaling 44.6 km. BMRCL is also eyeing early approval for the 37-km Hebbal–Sarjapur Phase 3A corridor.
The biggest roadblock in timely train delivery has been the fallout of the India-China border standoff in June 2020. CRRC, the Chinese firm tasked with supplying coaches, faced challenges meeting the 75% local manufacturing requirement under the Make in India mandate. Delays were further compounded by Covid-19 disruptions, FDI rules, and trade restrictions.
CRRC eventually partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems in Kolkata. However, engineers from China reportedly faced visa issues while traveling to Bengaluru for testing and commissioning. Additional delays were caused by late arrivals of propulsion systems sourced from Japan.