The frequency of Metro services on the Yellow Line is set to come down to 12 minutes from the existing 15 minutes following the acquisition of a sixth train for the route by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL).
The new train, built by the Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in West Bengal, is expected to be deployed in early December, allowing an increase in the frequency of trains on the route currently serviced by only five trains.
The Yellow Line has been operating five trainsets since November 1, when the headway on the line was reduced from 19 minutes to 15 minutes. “Service is expected to improve further as more trainsets are introduced in the coming months,” BMRCL said last month.
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“Currently, BMRCL is using 100% of the Yellow Line trains during peak hours to support passenger convenience, even though it means temporarily operating without a spare train,” the November statement added.
The Yellow Line services in south Bengaluru connecting to the Electronic City in the southeast part of Bengaluru – a route traversed by thousands of workers in the IT sector – were opened on August 10 this year with three trainsets.
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A fourth train set was added on the Yellow Line on September 10, reducing wait time from 25 minutes to approximately 19 minutes. The Yellow Line serves approximately 80,000 passengers daily, including interchange passengers. The 19-kilometre Yellow Line connects R V Road to Bommasandra via Electronics City.
BMRCL signs Rs 414 crore deal with BEML for 6 additional trainsets
Meanwhile, the BMRCL has placed an order for six additional driverless trainsets with BEML Limited in a deal worth Rs 414 crore. The order is intended to strengthen Bengaluru’s urban mobility network as new BMRCL service lines are scheduled to come into operation in 2026.
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“Under this expansion, BEML will supply six more driverless metro train sets (36 cars) for the Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Phase 2 (Reach 5), increasing the total order from 60 trainsets (360 cars) to 66 trainsets (396 cars),” BEML said in a statement on December 3.
“The new train sets will seamlessly interface with the Siemens signalling system and will operate on the Yellow Line corridor, further enhancing the capacity and efficiency of Bengaluru’s evolving urban mobility network,” the statement added.
The latest order is an extension of a contract originally awarded to BEML in August 2023 after competitive global bidding. “The base contract, valued at approximately Rs 3,177 crore, includes the design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and comprehensive maintenance of the metro train sets for up to 15 years,” BEML said.
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“These additional train sets will significantly expand the operational capacity of Bengaluru Metro and support the city’s fast-growing mobility needs,” Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director, BEML Limited, said.
Earlier in March 2025, BMRCL had signed an additional contract valued at approximately Rs 405 crore for 42 additional metro cars for Reach 6, “which increased that contract’s scope from 53 trainsets (318 cars) to 69 trainsets (360 cars).”
“The upcoming trainsets will integrate advanced technologies, including IP-based Passenger Announcement and Passenger Information Systems, a Passenger Saloon Surveillance System (PSSS) for enhanced onboard security, LCD-based Dynamic Route Maps, and electrically operated automatic doors synchronised with Platform Screen Doors to ensure greater safety and operational efficiency,” BEML said Wednesday.