Bengaluru's tech hub Electronics City, home to companies like Infosys and Biocon, is now a step closer to Metro connectivity.
Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on March 7 began slow trial runs on the Yellow Line (Bommasandra - RV Road), with many curious residents capturing videos from their high-rises amid cheers.
“This is the first time a six-coach train was operated on the main line of this new standalone corridor. The trial run covered the section between Bommasandra and Bommanahalli stations on the Yellow Line” said a BMRCL official.
Officials said trial run started from Hebbagodi depot at 6:55 pm, maintaining a speed of 10kmph. The train reached Bommasandra station at 7:14 pm and Bommanahalli station at 8:05 pm. In the return direction, it arrived in Bommasandra at 9:11 pm.
The train ran at a slow speed of 10-25 kmph, assessing various parameters on the route, including the civil interface, track alignment, and others. Initially, the train will operate at lower speeds, with plans to gradually increase speed in the coming days.
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“We will be conducting trial runs between Bommasandra and Central Silk Board using the prototype train that arrived from China on February 14 in the coming days. The trial run on the remaining Central Silk Board - RV Road section will commence in April,” said Jithendra Jha, project manager for rolling stock at Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
The 18.8-km Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line, connecting RV Road with Bommasandra, was initially expected to be operational in 2021 before BMRCL pushed the deadline to December 2024.
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The Yellow Line has 16 stations: Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road (RV Road), Ragigudda, Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout, Central Silk Board, Bommanahalli (HSR Layout), Hongasandra (Oxford College), Kudlu Gate (Muneshwara Nagar), Singasandra (Chikkabegur), Hosa Road (Basapura Road), Beratena Agrahara (Hosa Road), Electronic City, Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara (Electronic City – II), Huskur Road, Hebbagodi, and Bommasandra.
The line is expected to benefit residents and employees in areas such as Jayanagar, BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Electronics City, and Bommasandra Industrial Area.
These trains, equipped with the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) System, commonly known as 'Driverless Technology,' reduce the headway to 90 seconds from the existing two and a half minutes. Although compatible with driverless operations, BMRCL plans to deploy loco pilots initially.
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"There is a wide range of about 37 tests lasting for four months, followed by system integration with signaling systems, telecommunication systems, power supply systems, etc., tests for 45 days," a BMRCL official said.
Statutory safety tests will include oscillation trials by the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) and inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).
BMRCL plans to invite the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for safety clearance by October. Following CMRS approval, operations are set to commence by December 2024.
For oscillation trials, three trains will be required. “We will conduct 90% testing with this prototype train. Once we receive two more trains from Titagarh, we will initiate the remaining test runs with three trains”.
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