Bengaluru's urban transit system hits milestone with arrival of first fully automated train set for new airport line of city's metro. Construction along Blue Line route continues.
Train set,comprising several coaches,made journey on specialized vehicles from manufacturing site to metro facility. There,preliminary testing begins. Essential for airport corridor project.
Yashwanth Chavan,chief public relations officer of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL),says train will be in Inspection Bay Line for initial trials. New facility for Blue Line isn't fully operational yet. Full testing needed before passengers can board .
Testing phase expected to last five months . Once corridor and infrastructure ready,train moves to designated track for extensive trials .
This elevated section of Blue Line,18 kilometers long,connects Central Silk Board with K.R . Pura. Target completion by December 2026. But unfinished stations could delay timeline. Another 37 kilometers to Kempegowda International Airport slated for December 2027.
Contract awarded to BEML in August 2023 worth ₹3,177 crores. Covers 318 metro coaches for Blue Line.
Meanwhile,Namma Metro Yellow Line rollout hit snags,delaying passenger services due to lack of trains. Construction was smooth,but trains weren't.
Delays tied to Yellow Line coach contractor. In 2019,contract of ₹1,578 crores awarded to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) for 216 coaches.
But CRRC faced issues with key requirements, like setting up manufacturing plant in India. Caused production and delivery delays. BMRCL issued notices to CRRC,even considered enforcing ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
To speed up coach supply and cut delays,CRRC partnered with Titagarh Wagons in Kolkata. Deliveries started in 2024. Will this clear backlog…?
