The opening of Bangalore’s Yellow Line Metro appears to face a further delay, with authorities now indicating that the crucial metro corridor is expected to be operational by the end of this year, contrary to the official deadline set in the state budget last month, which was July 2024.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced on Wednesday that trial runs on the Yellow Line will commence in the next four days, utilizing a prototype driverless train imported from China on February 14. The 19.15-km Yellow Line, connecting RV Road with Bommasandra, is scheduled to undergo elaborate signaling tests on March 7 and 8.

Initially, trial runs will be conducted between Bommasandra and Silk Board Junction, with plans to extend them to the entire line by mid-April, according to Jitendra Jha, Project Manager (Rolling Stock) at BMRCL. Commercial operations, however, hinge on acquiring at least seven trains and obtaining statutory approvals from various authorities.

The Yellow Line, which includes Jayadeva Hospital, Silk Board Junction, and Electronics City, has completed civil construction and track-laying, but the lack of trains has led to delays. In 2019, China’s CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd secured a contract to supply 216 coaches to BMRCL, with assembly taking place in India.

BMRCL showcased the first six-coach driverless train at the Hebbagodi depot on Wednesday, emphasizing that it needs to undergo numerous tests over the next four months. Optimism surrounds the arrival of another train from China by June, along with two more trains assembled by Titagarh Rail System Ltd (TRSL) in Bengal.

The BMRCL also confirmed that all trains deployed on new metro lines will feature driverless technology. Despite initial operation with loco pilots, the trains are designed for Unattended Train Operations (UTO), ensuring a high level of safety. The BMRCL expressed confidence that these driverless trains, integrated with advanced signaling systems, will not encounter collisions.

Visas have been granted to Chinese engineers overseeing the testing process, with 13 out of 15 already in the city. Additionally, the 3.13-km metro-road flyover from Ragi Gudda to Silk Board Junction is progressing in construction, featuring advanced design elements for efficient traffic flow.

The driverless metro trains, equipped with Artificial Intelligence-based monitoring, obstacle detection, and improved curve negotiation capabilities, are poised to bring enhanced safety and efficiency to Bangalore’s metro system.

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