Bengaluru, 6 Jan

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday launched the first domestically manufactured train set for Namma Metro's Yellow Line.

Addressing the gathering virtually, Khattar said Bengaluru, a global hub of IT and innovation, continues to address urban challenges with enhanced metro connectivity, benefiting millions.

"As we inaugurate Bengaluru Metro's new train set and surpass 1,000 kilometres of operational metro rail, we celebrate a significant milestone in India's urban mobility journey," he added.

Acknowledging the inadvertent delay of the Yellow Line of Namma Metro, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said with the launch of the first train set at Titagarh Rail Systems, Kolkata, the project will soon be functional benefitting over 2.5 lakh passengers.

Titagarh Rail Systems is a comprehensive mobility solution provider with a strong presence in India and Italy. "I am aware of the inadvertent delay to the project, which was supposed to have been completed in 2017, due to various reasons, including Covid. I am also aware of how important the Yellow Line is for Bengaluru because it connects the heart of the city," said Surya.

According to the website of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture of the Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka, once operational, the Yellow Line of Namma Metro will significantly ease congestion in critical areas like Electronic City and Silk Board.

The line spans 18.8km from RV Road to Bommasandra with 16 stations, connecting Bengaluru South's ITBT and industrial corridors. It Includes three interchange stations (Silk Board, RV Road and Jayadeva), enabling seamless transfers to the Pink, Green and Purple lines of the Metro.