Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on September 1 sought to airfreight two trains’ worth of bogies from China for the Metro’s Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra).
A bogie is the wheeled chassis or framework underneath a train coach/metro car.
The Yellow Line, which connects Electronics City, was inaugurated on August 10. At present, it has only three trains, resulting in a 25-minute frequency.
“I had a detailed conversation with the MD of Titagarh on the speedy supply of more trains for the Yellow Line Metro. He informed me they are ready to deliver up to 8 trains by September 30; all other materials are ready except the bogies, which CRRC must supply from China. The only practical solution is for CRRC to airfreight bogies for two trains. If shipped by sea, delivery will slip by 30–45 days, causing further avoidable delays,” Surya wrote on X.
Also, read: 19 km, 32 minutes: First-hand account of Bengaluru Metro’s RV Road–Bommasandra ride
“I have already asked BMRCL officials to press CRRC, making it clear that the cost of delay will far exceed the cost of airfreight,” Surya added.
He further said: “I appeal to DCM DK Shivakumar and BMRCL to act immediately and do what is needed for airfreighting the materials. Timely delivery will not only save money but also ease commuter life and generate additional revenue. Delay, on the other hand, will only add to costs.”
BMRCL, which recently received its fourth train, plans to induct it into service by September 10. “We are likely to receive the fifth train by the end of September and another two by October-end,” a BMRCL official said.
In December 2019, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co won the contract to supply 216 coaches in 173 weeks. Of these, 126 coaches (21 six-coach trains) are for the Purple and Green Lines and 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) are for the Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra). CRRC had partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) to make trainsets in India to comply with local manufacturing norms.
Also, read: MC Explains: Overcrowded Bengaluru Metro coaches: Fallout of Indo-China conflict
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