BENGALURU, 4 APRIL

After a series of missed deadlines and long public anticipation, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has now set its sights on launching the Yellow Line Metro by the first week of July. This 19-km line connecting RV Road to Bommasandra is expected to offer a much-needed relief to commuters in the city’s southern corridor.

BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao M said on Friday, "We have received two trains, and we are now going for the regulatory approvals, including oscillation trials and signalling testing. Following that, approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will be obtained. Hopefully, we will complete the tests by the end of this month. "

The Yellow Line will be the first in Bengaluru to operate driverless metro trains. Delays in the delivery of the rolling stock pushed back the commissioning schedule multiple times. Of the six trains ordered, only two are currently with the BMRCL, while two more are expected shortly.

The third train is expected by 28 April and the fourth by June first week. The BMRCL plans to commence operations on the line with these four trains. "By July, if all approvals are in place, we expect to open the line for public use, operating one train every 30 minutes initially," Rao said.

Once the fourth train arrives, the central railway safety authorities will conduct a fresh round of inspections. Once approved, the BMRCL will seek final clearance from the state government. "We may opt for a three to five station gap model, adjusting frequency and stops based on demand," a BMRCL official said.

The BMRCL has been under pressure from both the public and civic planners to open the Yellow Line, which is seen as a critical link connecting the industrial zones of Bommasandra with the inner city.