Bengaluru Metro to operate three-car trains on proposed Magadi Road corridor

Sources said MoHUA has imposed additional conditions for the approval of Phase 3 corridors.

Bengaluru Metro is likely to operate three-car trains on the proposed Magadi Road corridor.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has accepted the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)'s condition to run three-coach trains, instead of the originally planned six-coach rolling stock, as a prerequisite for Phase 3 project approvals.

In November 2022, the Karnataka government approved two Metro Phase 3 corridors: Hosahalli-Kadabagere corridor along Magadi Road (12.5km) and JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura along Outer Ring Road-West (32.1km). However, the MoHUA is yet to approve the project. In fact, it has asked BMRCL to revise the detailed project report (DPR) multiple times.

Currently, BMRCL operates six-car trains on both the Purple Line (Challaghatta-Whitefield) and Green Line (Silk Institute-Nagasandra), with a network length of 73km.

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Speaking to Moneycontrol on the sidelines of Kannada Rajyotsava (Karnataka state day) celebration at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station in Majestic on November 1, BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez said: "The stations along the Magadi Road will be designed to accommodate six-car trains, but we will initially run three-coach trains. However, the capacity can be increased to six-coach trains, once demand rises. In phase 1, we also started with three coaches and later increased to six-coach trains."

The Magadi Road section will have nine stations: Hosahalli, KHB Colony, Kamakshipalya, Sumanahalli Cross, Sunkadakatte, Herohalli, Byadarahalli, Kamath Layout, and Kadabagere, with an expected daily ridership of 1.7 lakh by 2028.

The Outer Ring Road West Metro (JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura) will have 22 stations and is estimated to have a daily ridership of 4.6 lakh. Parwez said that "the ORR West Metro will have six-car metro coaches from the beginning."

The estimated completion cost for both of these corridors is Rs 16,328 crore. With the reduction of coaches for the Magadi Metro corridor, the initial expenditure will be reduced to Rs 15,600 crore.

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Parwez assured that operating three-coach trains on Magadi Road would not impact passengers. "Currently, Bengaluru Metro uses the DTG (distance-to-go) signalling system, which maintains a train headway of two-and-a-half minutes. However, an advanced Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system can reduce the train headway to less than 90 seconds."

Other conditions

Sources said MoHUA has imposed additional conditions for the approval of Phase 3 corridors. MoHUA has asked BMRCL for the inclusion of a front evacuation system for trains running in Phase 3 corridors to facilitate passenger exits during emergencies.

While the Delhi Metro prefers front evacuation, saying it is controlled and safer, BMRCL prefers side evacuation, as front evacuation would require the third rail’s (live rail which provides electric power to a train) power to be turned off for safety reasons.

According to MoHUA, worldwide, both systems are adopted, including front evacuation in 750V DC third rail systems (e.g., Kolkata Metro). Currently, both side and front evacuation methods can be adopted by Metro operators, depending on their specific circumstances and preferences, but MoHUA aims to establish a standardised system across the country.

At present, the Bengaluru Metro has a side-evacuation system, where passengers exit through normal doors. In a front evacuation setup, emergency doors are located at the front and rear ends of Metro trains.

MoHUA has also recommended a 2,900-mm coach with a 16-tonne axle load as part of its efforts to standardise rolling stock specifications.

However, BMRCL is not keen on implementing these suggestions. A senior BMRCL official said, "At present, our stations and depots are designed to accommodate rolling stock of 2,880 mm with an axle load of 15 tonnes. We have a side evacuation system for trains running on existing lines. So, we have requested them to continue with this."

In July 2022, a Mumbai-based firm was awarded the preparation of the DPR for the 37-km line connecting Sarjapur Road and Hebbal (Phase 3A). BMRCL is likely to submit the DPR to the state government in a couple of weeks. It is planning to expand its network to 175 km by 2025-2026 and 317 km by 2031, as outlined in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) prepared by the state government.

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