PM Narendra Modi to officially launch Bengaluru Metro's Yellow Line and initiate construction of Metro Phase-3, which carries a hefty price tag of ₹15,611 crores following numerous previous setbacks.
After several years of delays and challenges, the Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra with 16 stations, is finally set to open on August 10, 2025. This significant milestone for Bengaluru's public transportation network will benefit nearly 25 lakh people in Bengaluru South.
The delays were primarily attributed to a series of operational, technical, political, and supply chain challenges. One of the key factors was the disruption in coach supply due to the India-China border standoff in June 2020, which affected the Chinese firm CRRC responsible for train manufacture and delivery.
Numerous technical and safety issues were also flagged in a report by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) after inspection. Problems in cybersecurity assessments, software verification, and integration of train operation systems, as well as civil engineering defects such as drainage problems, structural faults, and electrical safety shortfalls at multiple stations along the line were some of the issues highlighted.
Contractor difficulties and multiple missed deadlines spanning about seven years, with political and administrative challenges slowing progress, were additional setbacks. Citizen protests, political blame games, and issues such as flawed tendering processes also contributed to the delays.
Initially, the line was promised to open in 2021 but only became ready for commercial operations around August 2025, reflecting a four-year delay. Despite these challenges, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received three train sets so far for the Yellow Line.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 19.15 km Yellow Line on August 10, 2025, and during the same event, he will also lay the foundation stone for Bengaluru Metro's Phase-3. The Phase-3 project, spanning 44.65 km at a cost of ₹15,611 crore, has already received Cabinet approval within the first 100 days of Modi's third term.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has expressed gratitude towards PM Modi for his focus, affection, and commitment to Bengaluru South's public transport infrastructure. He has also expressed excitement about the Yellow Line inauguration, considering it a landmark moment for Bengaluru South.
The total Metro infrastructure dedicated to Bengaluru South is approximately ₹20,000 crore. The construction cost of the Yellow Line is ₹5,056.99 crore. As the Yellow Line prepares to open, it is clear that this significant investment in Bengaluru's public transportation network will greatly improve the city's connectivity and quality of life for its residents.
- The delays in the opening of the Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro were due to a combination of operational, technical, political, and supply chain challenges, including disruptions in coach supply caused by the India-China border standoff in 2020.
- Despite the numerous technical and safety issues flagged by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited has received three train sets for the Yellow Line.
- Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his focus, affection, and commitment to Bengaluru South's public transport infrastructure.
- The opening of the Yellow Line will significantly improve the city's connectivity and quality of life for residents, as it represents a substantial investment in Bengaluru's public transportation network, with a total Metro infrastructure dedicated to Bengaluru South amounting to approximately ₹20,000 crore.
