Made-in-India driverless trainset from Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd Kolkatta for Yellow Line handed over to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited

Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd. officially handed over the first Made-in-India driverless trainset for the Yellow Line to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) in West Bengal. The 18-km stretch, connecting Electronics City with the rest of Bengaluru city, will feature the stainless steel, fully automated train.

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The trainset, manufactured at Titagarh’s facility in Uttarpara, West Bengal, was unveiled in a virtual ceremony attended by Manohar Lal, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs on Monday. Mr. Lal said: “As Bengaluru surpasses 1,000 km of operational metro rail, this trainset signifies a giant leap in India’s urban mobility journey.”

The trainset is expected to arrive at Bengaluru’s Hebbagodi depot by road within 15 days, according to officials from BMRCL. However, the much-anticipated opening of the Yellow Line, initially slated for December 2024, has been delayed due to setbacks in the delivery of rolling stock. While a prototype train manufactured in China arrived at Bengaluru’s Hebbagodi depot in February 2024, the subsequent delay in receiving the remaining trainsets has pushed the timeline further. Currently, two more trainsets are expected to be delivered by April 2025, with production ramping up to two trains per month by September.

The Yellow Line, connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra, is now scheduled for commissioning in January 2025, according to a confirmation from the BMRCL last month.

According to a release by Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd., the train is equipped with advanced driverless automation (GOA4), modern interiors, and enhanced sustainability features, the trainsets promise a secure and efficient commuting experience for millions.

Stretching over 18.82 km, the Yellow Line is an elevated corridor with 16 stations, designed to improve connectivity in southern Bengaluru. It will serve key areas housing major companies like Infosys and Biocon and will intersect with the Green Line at R.V. Road Station and the Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital Station.

However, the Yellow Line has encountered several setbacks. In 2019, the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) secured a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches to BMRCL. Yet, the company struggled to meet its obligations, failing to establish a manufacturing facility in India as required by the contract. This led BMRCL to issue multiple notices to CRRC and consider encashing a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.

To address these challenges, CRRC recently partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Wagons to complete the delivery of the remaining metro coaches. While this collaboration has alleviated some concerns, significant delays continue to impact the project timeline.