INDIA: Revenue operations on Bengaluru’s first driverless metro line began on August 11, after a formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous day.
The 18·8 km elevated Yellow Line developed at cost of Rs 71·6bn starts at an interchange with the Green Line at Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road, and runs southeast to Delta Electronics Bommasandra.
There are 16 stations, some of which have been partly funded by companies including Infosys Foundation, Biocon and Delta Electronics in what Modi described as ‘a new model of public infrastructure development‘.
The end-to-end journey time is 35 min, compared to a previous travel time of more than 90 min by bus. The initial service is worked by just three trainsets running at 25 min intervals, but a significant increase is planned by operator Namma Metro as more trains are commissioned.
The line ‘will increase the ease of living and ease of working in the lives of millions of people‘, Modi explained.
Chinese-Indian rolling stock agreement
CRRC Nanjing Puzhen is supplying 15 six-car trainsets under a contract awarded in December 2019 which required at least 75% of the value of the contract to be made in India. To meet this, the Chinese company partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems.
The first trainset was manufactured in China and arrived at Hebbagodi in Bengaluru on February 14 2024. The first locally-assembled trainset was delivered from Titagarh’s plant in Kolkata on February 9 this year.
Siemens Mobility and Siemens India have supplied the communications-based train control to support unattended operation at GoA4.
Orange Line
As part of the opening celebrations Modi also laid the foundation stone for the metro network’s Phase 3 projects, which tigether are worth more than Rs156bn. This phase includes the 32·2 km Orange Line, which will follow the western outer ring road from Kempapura in the north to Jaya Prakash Nagar on Line 2, serving 21 stations,.
‘Today Bengaluru is identified among the big cities of the world‘, said Modi. ‘We have to compete globally, and not only that, we have to lead as well. We will move ahead only when our cities are smart, fast and efficient. That is why we are putting so much emphasis on completing projects for modern infrastructure.‘
