Bengaluru’s much-anticipated Namma Metro Pink Line project has come full circle, and we have moved to the next phase with the preparation of commercial operations. A technical and safety assessment of new metro trains for the Pink Line corridor will be conducted by Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) between August 12 and August 14.
This will be done at the request of BMRCL and will be supervised by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) and will help to start passenger services on the corridor.
The Pink Line will connect Kalena Agrahara in South Bengaluru with Nagawara in the north of the city in Namma Metro Phase 2. Once operational, the corridor will considerably enhance connectivity across the city and shorten travel times for thousands of commuters. The line is one of the most anticipated metro projects in Bengaluru as it is located in a dense and busy area.
Metro representatives said that the new train sets provided by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) will undergo rigorous technical tests at the Kothanur Depot at the train yard of the new sets will be tested for technical specifications and safety issues. Expert trainers will investigate braking systems and braking technologies, integration with modern signals and automated train operation for train operation. The trains are tested to ensure that all operational and safety aspects are verified, and the trains are tested for safety ahead of their service and are ready for public use, they said.
After these initial inspections, the CMRS will conduct a detailed review of the entire Pink Line's infrastructure in the final phase and will evaluate trial runs, signalling and telecommunications systems, safety measures, stations, tracks, electrical systems, passenger facilities and emergency evacuation arrangements. The CMRS inspection is considered to be one of the most critical steps in the approval process as commercial operations cannot be carried out without it.
The Pink Line has a total length of 21.3 km and consists of elevated and underground sections. Of the total length, 7.5 km is elevated tracks as well as 13.8 km is underground. The first stretch, from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere, has 6 stations and is the elevated part of the line.
This elevated section has already achieved an important benchmark by completing speed trials conducted by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). In these trials, the route was certified for train operations at up to 90 kilometers/hour, proving that the route was ready from the engineering and safety point of view.
The Metro officials are hopeful that final approval from CMRS and other regulatory bodies is received by the end of September. When the clearances are received, passenger services on the elevated section could be available very soon. On the other hand, construction of the rest of the underground part is moving at a fast pace. The underground section will be completed and opened in stages; fully constructed corridors are expected to be opened by the end of the year.
The Pink Line will transform the whole public transportation system in Bengaluru. Connecting the main residential, commercial and employment hubs in and around Bengaluru, it will provide a more convenient and green way to travel. When inspections and approvals are completed, commuters will have another big addition to their metro system as it expands.
