BENGALURU (Metro Rail & Steel):
In a strategic shift to accelerate Phase 3 of Bengaluru Metro expansion, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has embraced a crucial condition set by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) – the operation of three-coach trains on the proposed Magadi Road corridor. This decision marks a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing efforts to enhance public transportation.
BMRCL’s acceptance of this condition comes in response to the stringent prerequisites set by MoHUA for the Phase 3 project approvals. In November 2022, the Karnataka government greenlit two Phase 3 corridors: the Hosahalli-Kadabagere corridor along Magadi Road (12.5 kilometers) and JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura corridor along Outer Ring Road-West (32.1 kilometers). However, MoHUA’s approval for the project remains pending, as they have requested revisions to the detailed project report (DPR) on multiple occasions. Presently, BMRCL operates six-car trains on both the Purple Line (Challaghatta-Whitefield) and the Green Line (Silk Institute-Nagasandra), spanning a network length of 73 kilometers.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Kannada Rajyotsava celebration at the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station in Majestic on November 1, BMRCL Managing Director Anjum Parwez stated, “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 is slated to have nine stations, including Hosahalli, KHB Colony, Kamakshipalya, Sumanahalli Cross, Sunkadakatte, Herohalli, Byadarahalli, Kamath Layout, and Kadabagere, with an expected daily ridership of 1.7 lakh by 2028. In contrast, the Outer Ring Road West Metro (JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura) will encompass 22 stations and is anticipated to serve a daily ridership of 4.6 lakh passengers. Parwez affirmed that “the ORR West Metro will have six-car metro coaches from the beginning.” With a total estimated completion cost of Rs 16,328 crore for both corridors, the reduction of coaches for the Magadi Metro corridor is expected to bring the initial expenditure down to Rs 15,600 crore.
Parwez assured the public that operating three-coach trains on the Magadi Road corridor would not disrupt passengers’ experiences. “Currently, Bengaluru Metro uses the DTG (distance-to-go) signaling system, which maintains a train headway of two and a half minutes. However, an advanced Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling system can reduce the train headway to less than 90 seconds.”
MoHUA’s Additional Conditions
MoHUA has imposed additional conditions for the approval of Phase 3 corridors. One of these conditions is 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 for safety reasons, BMRCL prefers side evacuation.
MoHUA has also recommended a 2,900-mm coach with a 16-tonne axle load as part of its efforts to standardize rolling stock specifications, but BMRCL has expressed reservations about implementing these suggestions. At present, BMRCL’s stations and depots are designed to accommodate rolling stock of 2,880 mm with an axle load of 15 tonnes.
In July 2022, a Mumbai-based firm was awarded the preparation of the DPR for the 37-kilometer line connecting Sarjapur Road and Hebbal (Phase 3A). BMRCL is expected to submit the DPR to the state government in the coming weeks. The ambitious expansion plans aim to extend the network to 175 kilometers by 2025-2026 and 317 kilometers by 2031, aligning with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) prepared by the state government.
