Bengaluru Metro Delays Yellow Line Launch To 2025, Full Train Fleet Expected By August

The much-anticipated launch of the Yellow Line, connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra, has been delayed once again, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) confirmed in a recent status report. The Reach-5 section of the Namma Metro will now be operational by January 2025, according to BMRCL’s latest update.

In its official statement, BMRCL announced that the first batch of trains for the Yellow Line will arrive by November or December 2024, with three train sets ready for initial operations. Commercial services are expected to begin in January 2025, with trains running at 30-minute intervals during the initial phase.

Previously, BMRCL had aimed for a December 2024 launch, but a crucial inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) is now scheduled for that month, delaying the opening. As more trains are delivered—at a rate of two train sets per month starting in March 2025—service frequency will gradually increase.

BMRCL expects to have the full fleet of 15 train sets operational by August 2025, allowing for full-capacity metro operations, as per The New Indian Express report.

The 18.82-kilometre Yellow Line, an elevated route with 16 stations, is set to significantly enhance connectivity in southern Bengaluru, especially in Electronics City, home to major companies like Infosys and Biocon. The line will intersect with the Green Line at R.V. Road Station and the Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital Station.

Persistent Project Hurdles

Despite the progress, the Yellow Line has faced numerous delays. In 2019, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) won a Rs 1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches to BMRCL.

However, CRRC encountered difficulties fulfilling its commitments, primarily due to its failure to establish a manufacturing facility in India as stipulated in the contract. BMRCL had to issue multiple notices to CRRC and even considered encashing a Rs 372-crore bank guarantee.

Recently, CRRC formed a partnership with Kolkata-based Titagarh Wagons to supply the remaining coaches. While this collaboration has helped stabilize the project, delays continue to plague the timeline.

BMRCL’s statement indicated that critical components of the Yellow Line are nearing completion, setting the stage for a staggered rollout starting in November 2024.

Testing of the prototype train is already in progress, and technical approval for the traction system has been granted by the Railway Board. The focus now is on finalising the signalling system and preparing the rolling stock for full operations.