The Yellow Line of Namma Metro is set to receive a much-needed boost with the arrival of its fifth trainset, which reached the depot on September 30. The train is expected to be inducted into passenger service by mid-October, subject to successful completion of mandatory testing, easing the long-standing pressure on commuters travelling between R.V. Road and Bommasandra.
Officials from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) confirmed that the new trainset will undergo a 20-day testing cycle before deployment. The process includes integration checks with signalling, telecommunications, and power supply systems, a critical step to ensure seamless operations on the 18.82-km corridor. The Yellow Line, inaugurated in August, has emerged as a vital connection for southern Bengaluru and Electronics City. However, the corridor was launched with only three trainsets, leaving commuters waiting for over 25 minutes during peak hours. The addition of a fourth trainset in early September brought minor relief, reducing intervals to around 19 minutes. The fifth train is now expected to further improve the frequency to 15 minutes, though officials admit that a higher number of trains will ultimately be required for optimal service levels.
Each train on the Yellow Line is equipped with advanced Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, designed to enable driverless operations and potentially reduce train intervals from 150 seconds to as low as 90 seconds. However, BMRCL continues to operate trains manually during the initial phase to ensure operational safety. The project’s roll-out has been hampered by delays in rolling stock procurement. Civil works for the Yellow Line were completed nearly a year before commissioning, but the lack of timely train deliveries stalled its opening. Initially, a Chinese manufacturer was awarded a contract worth over ₹1,500 crore to supply 216 coaches with a mandatory local manufacturing facility. The failure to meet this condition led to disputes and penalties, before a new partnership was struck with Titagarh Rail Systems, which has since begun deliveries from its Kolkata facility.
Officials believe that despite the challenges, the phased arrival of new trainsets will progressively ease congestion. The Yellow Line is expected to be a game changer for Bengaluru’s public transport ecosystem, especially for the thousands commuting to Electronics City daily. However, transport experts caution that unless the pace of delivery accelerates, the full potential of the corridor will remain underutilised. For a city struggling with severe traffic congestion and rising emissions, strengthening the metro network remains essential. The induction of the fifth trainset marks a small but significant step in expanding sustainable mobility, offering a cleaner, faster, and more reliable alternative to private vehicles.
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