Bengaluru Namma Metro's Yellow Line receives safety clearance, aiming for August 15 opening: Report
READ | 'Bengaluru is India's economic engine, but...': Tejasvi Surya flags metro delays, fare hike in Lok Sabha
Yashwanth Chavan, BMRCL's chief public relations officer, noted that the CMRS has granted the necessary safety certification, which is critical for launching passenger operations on this new section.
Another top BMRCL official explained that the approval comes with specific stipulations. These must be addressed before commercial service can begin. The official stated that the CMRS always issues comments and suggestions during inspections, and that they must implement all these recommendations and submit a report outlining their compliance, after which they will receive the final go-ahead to start carrying passengers, The Hindu reported.
The safety review, overseen by AM Chowdhary, occurred over three days from July 22 and examined every element of the line's readiness — such as the power grid, tracks, signaling, curves, emergency response, fire prevention, passenger information displays, and amenities at each station, the report said.
READ | 'What is this behavior Namma Metro?': Bengaluru man triggers meme fest by bagging 'best offer', saving ₹0
The launch date for the Yellow Line remains undecided, although BMRCL aims for an August 15 opening. Both the state and central authorities have been officially informed about the safety clearance, said another official.
As for the possible presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the opening event, a final decision has yet to be made, as it depends on his availability, and no confirmation has been issued so far, the report noted.
When passenger services begin, operations will start small, with three driverless metro trains running every 20 minutes. Over time, BMRCL intends to ramp up the schedule to provide five-minute headways during peak hours by March 2026.
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
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PM Modi to inaugurate Bengaluru metro Yellow Line, launch Phase-3 expansion on August 10
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited 19.15-km Yellow Line of Namma Metro, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra, and lay the foundation stone for the 44.65-km Phase-3 expansion of the Bengaluru Metro on August 10. The Yellow Line, built at a cost of Rs 5,056.99 crore, features 16 stations and is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, especially at the infamously congested Silk Board Junction. The line is estimated to cater to nearly eight lakh commuters daily, offering major connectivity between key residential and industrial corridors in southern Bengaluru and Electronic City respectively. In addition, the Prime Minister will launch the Rs 15,611-crore Phase-3 expansion, which was approved by the Union Cabinet within the first 100 days of Modi 3.0. The Bengaluru Metro's Phase 3, also known as the Orange Line, is a project to expand the city's metro network by adding 44.65 km of new lines. The project includes two lines and 31 stations, with an estimated completion date by the end of 2029. Phase 3 will primarily serve underserved areas along Magadi Road and the western portion of the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The two lines will connect JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura (Hebbal) and Hosahalli to Kadabagere, with a portion also passing through Gorguntepalya, Magadi Road, and Mysuru Road. A significant part of the project will involve a double-decker viaduct, where metro tracks will be built above existing roads and flyovers to optimize space Union Minister for Home and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar said, 'I am pleased to announce that the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India has kindly agreed to inaugurate the Yellow Line and lay the foundation stone for Phase-3 on August 10.' Calling the occasion a 'landmark moment for Bengaluru South,' local MP Tejasvi Surya expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for prioritising public transport in the region. 'With nearly Rs 20,000 crore worth of Metro infrastructure dedicated to this region alone, we are incredibly grateful to PM Modi for his continued focus, affection, and commitment to Bengaluru South's public transport infrastructure,' he said. Together, the Yellow Line and Phase-3 projects are expected to benefit nearly 25 lakh commuters in the southern part of the city, enhancing overall urban mobility in Bengaluru. On August 1, the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) gave the safety clearance to BMRCL's Yellow Line, clearing the way for commercial operations on the stretch. This development came nearly eight years after the civil works for the Yellow Line were awarded in 2017. BMRCL currently has three trains in its Hebbagodi depot for the Yellow Line with the fourth train set on its way to Bengaluru. The Yellow Line has suffered significant delays, primarily due to disruptions in the supply of metro coaches. CRRC, the Chinese firm originally contracted to supply the rolling stock, failed to meet the 75 per cent local manufacturing requirement mandated by the 'Make in India' policy. The issue was exacerbated by the India-China border standoff in June 2020, complications with foreign direct investment (FDI) norms, and Covid-related disruptions. To resolve the impasse, CRRC partnered with Bengal-based Titagarh Rail Systems to manufacture and deliver the coaches domestically. However, visa delays for Chinese engineers and the late arrival of propulsion systems from Japan further slowed down testing and commissioning of the corridor.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru Namma Metro's Yellow Line receives safety clearance, aiming for August 15 opening: Report
Bengaluru's much-anticipated Yellow Line for the Namma Metro has just overcome a major milestone, as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) secured essential safety approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), Southern Circle. This advancement brings the city closer to debuting the 19.15-kilometre connection between RV Road in the south and Bommasandra. Bengaluru's Namma Metro Yellow Line has secured crucial safety approval, paving the way for potential passenger services starting August 15. (Sanjeev Verma/HT) READ | 'Bengaluru is India's economic engine, but...': Tejasvi Surya flags metro delays, fare hike in Lok Sabha Yashwanth Chavan, BMRCL's chief public relations officer, noted that the CMRS has granted the necessary safety certification, which is critical for launching passenger operations on this new section. Another top BMRCL official explained that the approval comes with specific stipulations. These must be addressed before commercial service can begin. The official stated that the CMRS always issues comments and suggestions during inspections, and that they must implement all these recommendations and submit a report outlining their compliance, after which they will receive the final go-ahead to start carrying passengers, The Hindu reported. The safety review, overseen by AM Chowdhary, occurred over three days from July 22 and examined every element of the line's readiness — such as the power grid, tracks, signaling, curves, emergency response, fire prevention, passenger information displays, and amenities at each station, the report said. READ | 'What is this behavior Namma Metro?': Bengaluru man triggers meme fest by bagging 'best offer', saving ₹0 The launch date for the Yellow Line remains undecided, although BMRCL aims for an August 15 opening. Both the state and central authorities have been officially informed about the safety clearance, said another official. As for the possible presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the opening event, a final decision has yet to be made, as it depends on his availability, and no confirmation has been issued so far, the report noted. When passenger services begin, operations will start small, with three driverless metro trains running every 20 minutes. Over time, BMRCL intends to ramp up the schedule to provide five-minute headways during peak hours by March 2026.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Bengaluru Metro: Yellow Line connecting Electronic City ready for commercial operations
The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) Friday gave the safety clearance to Bengaluru Metro's 18.82-km-long Yellow Line, clearing the way for commercial operations on the stretch. This development comes nearly eight years after the civil works for the Yellow Line were awarded in 2017. The Yellow Line connects RV Road with Bommasandra via Electronic City. A Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) spokesperson told The Indian Express, 'We have received the safety clearance report from CMRS with certain general observations. We will now inform both the state government and the central government, seeking permission to operationalise the line for revenue services.' The official added, 'Currently, we have three trainsets, and three coaches of the fourth train set have been dispatched from Titagarh. The remaining coaches will be dispatched for Bengaluru either today (Friday) or tomorrow and should reach the Hebbagodi depot by August second week.' The fourth train set will also have to undergo signalling and other tests for a couple of weeks before commissioning it for revenue services. BMRCL is eyeing a high-profile inauguration event in August, with officials preparing to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the line. A private firm has reportedly been engaged to produce a documentary film showcasing the new corridor, including drone footage of the stations and route, for the inaugural program. The event is tentatively scheduled for the first or second week of August. BMRCL has also drawn up three possible operational plans. The first involves opening the entire 16-station stretch with three trains at a frequency of 24 minutes. The second plan proposes partial operation between RV Road and Bommasandra. The third option is to run services between Bommasandra and the Central Silk Board stations. The Yellow Line has suffered significant delays, primarily due to disruptions in the supply of metro coaches. CRRC, the Chinese firm originally contracted to supply the rolling stock, failed to meet the 75 per cent local manufacturing requirement mandated by the 'Make in India' policy. The issue was exacerbated by the India-China border standoff in June 2020, complications with foreign direct investment (FDI) norms, and COVID-related disruptions. To resolve the impasse, CRRC partnered with Bengal-based Titagarh Rail Systems to manufacture and deliver the coaches domestically. However, visa delays for Chinese engineers and the late arrival of propulsion systems from Japan further slowed down testing and commissioning of the corridor.
