Aiming to open Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro by August 15, says BMRCL MD as demand grows

Indian Express

4 days ago

Amid growing demand to open the Yellow Line of the Bengaluru Metro connecting RV Road and Bommasandra via Electronic City, Maheshwar Rao, the managing director of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has assured that the agency is targeting to commission the stretch by August 15.
This comes after Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya along with Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan and other BJP MLAs held a citizens' protest rally under the slogan 'Yellow Line na open maadi (Open Yellow Line)' at Lalbagh Main Gate on Saturday, urging BMRCL to commission the much-awaited stretch. Additionally, Surya also demanded that the metro rail corporation make public the fare fixation report, which had recommended over 100 per cent hike in Metro fares, triggering public ire.
Addressing the gathering at the protest site, Rao said, 'Currently, we have three trains, with the third train having arrived last month. Since these are automated train operating systems, an independent safety assessment test is underway which will check the safety controls of these driverless trains. We are expecting the report by July 7.'
He added, 'Once the report is submitted within next week, we will request regulatory clearance and approvals from CMRS (Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety). The entire regulatory process and necessary approvals will need at least a month's time. Therefore, tentatively, we are targeting to operationalise the stretch by August 15.'
Rao also stated that due to insufficient train supply, BMRCL is likely to operationalise the stretch using only three trains with a headway of 20 minutes. 'The trains will stop at only five to six stations. We will study the ridership patterns, including demand for services, till Bommasandra and streamline the operations accordingly. We are expecting two trains every month from the Titagarh Rail System starting August,' he said.
Meanwhile, Rao stated that finalisation of loans for Phase 3 of the Bengaluru Metro is expected by March 2026. Phase 3, which includes two elevated corridors spanning 44.65 km with 31 stations, is estimated to cost Rs 15,611 crore. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is likely to provide a significant loan, with approximately Rs 7,577 crore (60%) expected to be sourced from it. Rao said that pre-preparatory works will be done by September and tenders will be floated by October, subject to JICA approvals.
Slamming the BMRCL in connection with the lack of transparency over the fare fixation report (FFR), Tejasvi Surya said, 'Metro and bus services are the two most crucial modes of public transport. Recently, BMRCL hiked Metro fares by up to 100%. Before announcing the revision, a committee had gone on an international tour and submitted a report, based on which fares were increased by as much as 130%. Since the hike, Metro ridership has dropped by nearly 1 lakh commuters every day.'
He added, 'Several journalists and activists have filed RTI applications seeking details of the report. However, even after three months, the report has not been made public. What is the BMRCL trying to hide? FFR is no national secret that publishing it would help India's enemies.' The BMRCL MD said he will respond to Surya in this regard through a letter.
Meanwhile, on the status of the Hebbal–Sarjapur Metro corridor, Rao said, 'The government of India has asked us to rework the cost. An independent agency has been engaged to explore whether the cost can be brought down. The MP raised concerns about the proposed tunnel road on the same alignment. We will look into it.'