Bengaluru : The Electronics City Metro project in Bengaluru has received a significant boost with the arrival of the first driverless train from China. The six-coach train, designated for the 19-kilometer Yellow Line, was loaded onto a ship on January 20 and is currently en route to Chennai, according to officials from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
Expected to reach Chennai port by mid- or end-February 2024, the train will then be transported to Bengaluru’s Hebbagodi depot by road. Upon its arrival, the train will undergo approximately three months of trials.
The shipment, originally scheduled for September 2023, faced delays due to various challenges, including difficulties in finding a local manufacturer to meet the 75 percent local production requirement under the Make in India initiative. Additionally, factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign direct investment policies, and trade restrictions with China contributed to the setbacks.
To address these challenges, CRRC, the Chinese company responsible for the supply, partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail for manufacturing and supplying the coaches. The coaches are being produced at Titagarh Rail’s facility in Uttarpara, near Kolkata.
The Yellow Line, which connects South Bengaluru and Electronics City, home to major companies like Infosys and Biocon, is a crucial metro corridor. Out of the total coaches, 126 (21 six-coach trains) will be deployed on the Purple and Green lines, while the remaining 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) will serve the Yellow Line.
The delay in the induction of rolling stock has impacted the operations of the Yellow Line, originally slated for completion by 2021. However, due to the delays in receiving the trains, the operational timeline has been pushed back several times, with expectations for full functionality now targeted for September 2024.
The Yellow Line comprises 16 stations, including Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road (RV Road), Ragigudda, Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout, Central Silk Board, Bommanahalli (HSR Layout), Hongasandra (Oxford College), Kudlu Gate (Muneshwara Nagar), Singasandra (Chikkabegur), Hosa Road (Basapura Road), Beratena Agrahara (Hosa Road), Electronic City, Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara (Electronic City – II), Huskur Road, Hebbagodi, and Bommasandra.
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