Three more coaches for Bengaluru metro’s Yellow Line shipped from Titagarh

A coach for Namma Metro’s Yellow Line being dispatched from Titagarh factory in Kolkata on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

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In a key development for Bengaluru Namma Metro’s much-awaited Yellow Line, a fresh batch of coaches has been dispatched from Kolkata on Tuesday, according to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

Three coaches from the third train set were successfully shipped from the Titagarh factory in Kolkata, West Bengal, on April 29, while the remaining three will be dispatched by May 2. An additional set of three coaches is slated to arrive in Bengaluru between May 10 and May 15, a release from BMRCL stated.

“With the commissioning of these new trains, BMRCL aims to speed up the rollout of services on the Yellow Line, which will connect R.V. Road to Bommasandra. Once operational, the corridor will help ease traffic congestion and offer seamless travel options to daily commuters, especially those travelling between key industrial and residential hubs,” an official said.

Although the 19.15-km Yellow Line between R.V. Road and Bommasandra has been structurally ready for several months, its launch was delayed mainly due to the late arrival of driverless metro trains. The first batch of six coaches, manufactured in China, reached the Hebbagodi depot on February 14 this year.

In April, Maheshwar Rao, Managing Director of the BMRCL, said that the Yellow Line of Namma Metro will begin limited operations by June 2025, provided all necessary permissions are secured. “Full-scale operations are likely to commence between August and September, once all train sets are received,” he said.

The Yellow Line is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and enhance connectivity to major corporate hubs such as Infosys and Biocon. Featuring 16 fully elevated stations, it will serve as a vital corridor linking the Green Line at R.V. Road with the upcoming Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital Station.

In 2019, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) secured a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches to BMRCL. However, the company faced challenges in meeting its commitments, primarily due to its failure to set up a manufacturing facility in India as required by the agreement. This led BMRCL to issue several notices to CRRC and even contemplate encashing a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.

To address the delays, CRRC later partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems to manufacture and deliver the remaining coaches. While the collaboration has alleviated some concerns, the project continues to face significant setbacks in its timeline.