After China's CRRC, Bengaluru Metro may turn to BEML for extra Yellow Line trains to ease rush

Electronics City Metro

Bengaluru Metro is likely to place an order for six additional trains from BEML to ease rush on newly-launched Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra), which connects tech hub Electronics City.

Sources told Moneycontrol that Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is in talks with BEML for a 'variation order' for 36 Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) coaches (six trains).

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro may induct fourth Yellow Line train on Sept 10, frequency to improve

“BEML had already received a Rs 3,177 crore rolling stock order to supply 318 coaches for Bengaluru Metro’s Phase 2 (Pink Line), Phase 2A, and Phase 2B (Blue Line) corridors. The additional trains will be part of this contract as a variation order,” a source said.  A variation order is an official instruction to change a project’s scope, design, cost, or schedule.

However, officials said the plan is still under discussion as cost estimates are being worked out. “BMRCL is examining the possibility of adding more trains on Yellow Line within the provisions of the existing contracts to ease congestion,” another source said.

BL Yashwanth Chavan, BMRCL CPRO told Moneycontrol: “We are planning to introduce 2–3 more trains from Titaragh by December to ease congestion.”  However, he refused to divulge further details on BMRCL’s decision to place additional train orders with BEML.

Also, read: 19 km, 32 minutes: First-hand account of Bengaluru Metro’s RV Road–Bommasandra ride

Another industrial source told Moneycontrol: "Trains from different manufacturers in the same depot will not create major issues for BMRCL, since the propulsion system supplier is Japanese Mitsubishi for both CRRC and BEML trains. The main additional work for BEML would be interfacing with Siemens signalling instead of Alstom signalling for the Yellow Line."

This means BEML could deliver the train within a year, as there is no change in equipment and the only major work is interfacing with the signalling system.

In December 2019, CRRC was awarded a contract to supply 216 coaches - 126 coaches (21 six-coach trains) for Purple and Green Lines, and 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) for Yellow Line. The project ran into delays as the Chinese firm failed to meet tender conditions requiring a local manufacturing facility under the ‘Make in India’ clause. The Indo-China border standoff worsened matters. CRRC later tied up with Titagarh Wagons, but deliveries remained delayed. So far, only 30 coaches (four trains for Yellow Line and one for the Purple Line) have been supplied.

Also, read: MC Explains: Overcrowded Bengaluru Metro coaches: Fallout of Indo-China conflict

CRRC had quoted the lowest bid - Rs 1,578 crore for 216 coaches (Rs 7.31 crore per coach) - about Rs 400 crore less than BEML. In comparison, BEML quoted Rs 1,996 crore, Bombardier Rs 1,801 crore, and Alstom Rs 2,052 crore. While BEML later offered to match its price, rules did not allow awarding the contract to the second-lowest bidder.

BMRCL inducted the fourth Yellow Line train on September 10, improving frequency from 25 minutes (with three trains) to 19 minutes. Officials said the fifth train is expected from Titagarh by September 19 and the sixth by end-October. Yellow Line’s daily ridership is around 80,000, including the RV Road interchange station.

'Airlifting is impractical'

Separately, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on September 1 urged that two sets of bogies be airfreighted from China to speed up Yellow Line operations. Bogies are the wheeled chassis underneath train coaches.

BMRCL officials, however, said this was not feasible. “Each train has 12 bogies weighing 15 tonnes each. Airlifting requires special cargo flights, which operate only once a week from Shanghai to Delhi, not Kolkata. At most, two bogies can be airlifted at a time. Including customs clearance and onward transport, it would take at least two months by air compared to 21 days by direct sea shipment. Hence, airlifting is impractical,” an official explained.

Shortage of trains

Ideally, BMRCL should have one train per km to maintain a healthy 3-4 minute frequency. Currently, it operates 61 trains across a 96-km network.

“We had planned for 93 trains, but delays in the CRRC contract affected everything,” an official admitted.

Meanwhile, one Purple Line train from CRRC is undergoing trials. “Electromagnetic Compatibility tests are on. We plan to complete the statutory tests by September 2025. Thereafter, it will take 4-6 months to get approvals from RDSO, CMRS/CCRS, and railway board for passenger service,” the official added.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro Yellow Line: Tejasvi Surya seeks airfreight of bogies for two trains from China