Work on yellow line to take another 6 months, say Metro officials

BENGALURU: Techies working in Electronics City prefer the Metro over cab services as they dread the traffic jams. But those looking forwardd to the driverless Metro trains on the yellow line from next month have been been left disappointed yet again.

The work on the yellow line of Metro is almost complete, but passengers will have to wait six months for the driverless Metro service. The BMRCL said there is a delay in supply of the metro coaches that were supposed to come from China and hence, the inauguration of the yellow line is delayed again.

Earlier, it was said that the yellow line would be inaugurated in February, but now it is postponed to July, said Yashavant Chavan, Chief Public Relations Officer, BMRCL.

He added, the civil works are almost complete on the line. “The engineers of the coach supply company have to come along with two prototype trains. The train coaches have not arrived yet as permission has not yet been received from China. In all, 216 coaches supplied through Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd of Kolkata will be deployed on this line. It is still in process and the staff of the China company will likely come at the end of this month”, Chavan said.

Yashwant Chavan further said, “India has given visas to the staff of the Metro coach supply company from China, but they have not scheduled their visit yet. The prototype train has to reach Chennai port by ship, from there it will reach Hebbagodi depot by road in Bengaluru. China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation manufactures coaches at the Titagarh unit. Once the train arrives, approval must be obtained for the practical test on the yellow line. A practical test should be done in three stages. Then the Metro Railway Safety Commissioner will conduct a test before sanctioning approval. After that, the inauguration date will be fixed. It will take at least June-July to complete these steps”, he said.

Work on 98 per cent of the Yellow metro line has been completed, but the delay in inauguration has caused public outrage. It may take more time to complete the trial runs, test tracks, rolling stock and signals before Metro trains on the yellow line are operationalised.