Fresh Batch of Coaches Shipped for Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line from Titagarh
The much-anticipated Yellow Line of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has taken a step forward as three more metro coaches were dispatched from Titagarh Rail Systems’ factory in Kolkata on April 29, according to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). These are part of the third train set for the corridor connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra.
The remaining three coaches of this set are expected to be shipped by May 2, with another set of three coaches likely to arrive in Bengaluru between May 10 and 15. BMRCL officials stated that the timely arrival of these coaches will accelerate service rollout on the Yellow Line, which is designed to ease traffic and improve commute options across southern Bengaluru.
Although the 19.15-km corridor has been structurally ready for months, operations were delayed due to the slow supply of driverless trains. The first batch of six coaches, manufactured in China, only arrived in February this year.
In April, BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao mentioned that limited operations on the Yellow Line may begin by June 2025, pending final clearances. Full-scale operations are expected between August and September 2025, once all required train sets are delivered.
The Yellow Line will link the Green Line at R.V. Road with the upcoming Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital, featuring 16 fully elevated stations and connecting key residential and industrial hubs, including Infosys and Biocon.
The train procurement contract, worth ₹1,578 crore, was initially awarded in 2019 to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). However, delays in setting up a required local manufacturing facility led to setbacks and tensions, including BMRCL threatening to invoke a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
To overcome the delays, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems to complete the remaining coach production. While the new arrangement has improved coach delivery, the Yellow Line’s full launch remains dependent on the timely fulfillment of the remaining supply and regulatory approvals.
