Bengaluru: The Yellow Line of Namma Metro is expected to open for passenger services from August 15, following the grant of statutory safety clearance by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), Southern Circle. The approval, issued on Thursday and confirmed by officials from the Urban Development Department (UDD), marks a decisive step forward in operationalising the long-delayed 19.15-kilometre corridor linking R.V. Road in South Bengaluru to Bommasandra.

The clearance comes nearly eight years after construction began in 2017. Running via Electronic City, the Yellow Line is set to serve as a vital lifeline for thousands of commuters, particularly IT professionals, travelling between key residential areas and major employment centres. With this approval in place, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is preparing to secure final authorisation from both the state and central governments to begin revenue operations.

3 trains ready for deployment; plans to invite PM Modi for inauguration

Notably, three trainsets are already ready for deployment, while three coaches of a fourth set have been dispatched from Titagarh and are expected to reach the Hebbagodi depot by mid-August. The remaining coaches will follow shortly thereafter, after which the fourth trainset will undergo signalling and operational trials before being introduced for passenger service.

BMRCL is planning an official inauguration in mid-August, with arrangements under way to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the line. Preparations for the launch include the creation of a documentary featuring aerial footage of the stations and the route.

Initial operations might be restricted to shorter stretch

The corporation has outlined three operational strategies, with its preferred plan being to open the entire 16-station corridor using three trains operating at 24-minute intervals. Alternatively, initial services may be restricted to either the R.V. Road–Bommasandra stretch or the Bommasandra–Central Silk Board section.

What led to the delay?

The Yellow Line has faced repeated delays due to a combination of factors. Rolling stock supplier CRRC, a Chinese firm, failed to meet the government’s ‘Make in India’ mandate requiring 75 per cent local manufacturing, while subsequent India-China border tensions in 2020, foreign direct investment hurdles and pandemic-related disruptions further stalled progress.

To resolve these issues, CRRC partnered with Bengal-based Titagarh Rail Systems to manufacture the coaches domestically. However, additional delays followed due to visa constraints for Chinese engineers and late deliveries of propulsion systems from Japan, slowing down testing and commissioning.