The Yellow Line of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro, connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra, is targeted for commissioning in January 2025. This announcement comes amidst a year marked by limited progress in metro developments, primarily hindered by project delays and the late delivery of rolling stock.
This year saw the opening of only a brief section of the Green Line, while the much-anticipated Yellow Line faced setbacks due to the delayed acquisition of necessary trains. To date, only a single prototype train set, manufactured in China, has reached Bengaluru, arriving at the Hebbagodi depot on February 14, 2024. Testing of the train is currently in progress. Initial operational plans for the Yellow Line were set for December 2024, but these have now been revised.
The 18.82-kilometre Yellow Line features 16 stations and aims to boost connectivity in southern Bengaluru, notably benefiting regions with major corporate hubs like Infosys and Biocon. It will link with the Green Line at R.V. Road Station and the Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital Station.
Despite its potential, the Yellow Line has encountered considerable challenges. In 2019, the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) was contracted to provide 216 metro coaches under a ₹1,578-crore deal. However, the company faced difficulties in meeting its commitments, leading to concerns and potential penalties, including the risk of encashing a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
Recently, CRRC entered a partnership with Kolkata-based Titagarh Wagons to fulfill the remaining coach requirements, though the overall project timeline faces ongoing delays.
In related news, Bengaluru inaugurated a 3.14-kilometre extension of the Green Line from Nagasandra to Madavara (BIEC) on November 7, 2024. Initially projected for completion within 27 months, this segment faced numerous challenges, ultimately taking seven years to finish.
Furthermore, on December 6, 2024, the Karnataka Cabinet approved Phase 3A of the Red Line, which is designed to connect Sarjapur in the southeast to Hebbal in the north. The Pink Line is also set for a 2025 rollout, with its first elevated phase of 7.5 kilometres expected to be operational by September 2025, and a subsequent underground segment projected for completion by June 2026.
Stay tuned for updates as Bengaluru’s metro expansion continues to evolve.
