5 months ago
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The BEML Ltd. connected Thursday (December 11, 2025) rolled retired the prototype of its caller driverless metro trainset , developed for Bengaluru’s Namma Metro’s upcoming Phase-2, 2A and 2B corridors.
The PSU unveiled the archetypal six-coach driverless trainset meant for the Pink Line astatine its Bengaluru Rail Complex for the highly anticipated corridor, which is expected to unfastened successful 2 stages by the extremity of 2026, connecting Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara.
The prototype was formally flagged disconnected by J. Ravishankar, Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), successful the beingness of BEML Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director Shantanu Roy and elder officials from some organisations.
Under the ongoing contract, BEML volition proviso 318 standard-gauge coaches for the Pink Line and the Blue Line (airport corridor). According to BEML Ltd. officials, these trainsets, designed and engineered wholly in-house astatine BEML’s Bengaluru facility, volition beryllium subjected to rigorous investigating and commissioning successful enactment with BMRCL’s schedule. BEML Ltd. volition besides supply up to 15 years of broad attraction support.
“The rollout marks an important measurement successful the execution of the ₹3,177-crore contract, which BEML secured done competitory bidding. The caller prototype demonstrates its increasing publication to India’s metro ecosystem, peculiarly successful the domain of afloat automated, Grade of Automation-4 (GoA4) systems,” a authoritative said.
BEML rolls retired prototype of its caller driverless metro trainset for #Bengaluru's Phase-2 network.
The 5RS-DM train, built for the Pink & Blue (Airport) lines, was unveiled astatine BEML's Bengaluru unit. The ₹3,177-cr task volition present 318 metro cars@the_hindu@THBengalurupic.twitter.com/owxjJcoYFR
Features
The caller trainset features modern interiors, energy-efficient systems, upgraded rider accusation displays, wider gangways for casual movement, USB charging points, ergonomic seating and accessibility features. “It is designed to comply with precocious fire-safety and crashworthiness norms and is compatible with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, enabling afloat driverless operations,” the authoritative explained.
BEML Ltd., the largest rolling-stock supplier to Bengaluru Metro, precocious received an further bid worthy ₹414 crore for six much driverless trainsets for Phase-2’s Yellow Line. Combined with a erstwhile bid for 42 further cars, the full proviso fig has present accrued from 318 to 396 metro coaches for Phase-2.
In August 2023, BEML secured a declaration to manufacture and support 318 metro coaches (53 trainsets) implicit 15 years. This included 96 coaches designated for the Pink Line and 222 coaches for the Blue Line, which covers Phase 2A and 2B extensions.
Key features of the caller driverless trainset:
Modern, modern interiors for enhanced rider comfort
Energy-efficient systems with upgraded rider accusation features
Extra Wide gangways for seamless rider question betwixt coaches
USB charging ports, ergonomic seating, and improved accessibility provisions
Compliance with precocious occurrence safety, crashworthiness, and planetary information standards
Compatibility with CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) for afloat driverless operations
Source: BEML Limited
Delay successful bid supply
Meanwhile, a elder BMRCL authoritative told The Hindu that arsenic per the contract, BEML was expected to proviso the trains by June 2025, but the docket has been delayed. “We present expect 16 trains to beryllium delivered earlier the afloat Pink Line is completed successful December 2026, truthful that proceedings runs, inspections, and CMRS approvals tin beryllium carried retired arsenic planned. The task is scheduled for completion by December 2026, aft which the enactment tin beryllium opened to the public,” the authoritative said.
The archetypal six-coach prototype bid for the Pink Line, unveiled connected December 11, volition beryllium transported by trailers to the Kothanur depot aft December 15, officials said. The prototype volition past acquisition a bid of tests for a minimum of 5 months.
Like different metro corridors successful Bengaluru, the Pink Line has encountered repeated delays since its launch. Originally slated to beryllium operational successful 2020, the deadline was aboriginal pushed to December 2025.
The corridor, a important constituent of Namma Metro’s Phase 2 expansion, volition tally 21.3 km from Kalena Agrahara successful the southbound to Nagawara successful the north. Of the full stretch, 13.8 km volition beryllium underground and 7.5 km volition beryllium elevated.
Slow advancement connected Pink Line
Once completed, the Pink Line is expected to importantly fortify north–south connectivity by linking dense residential pockets and large commercialized hubs with the metropolis centre. Although tendering for the elevated information commenced successful 2017, advancement moved astatine a dilatory gait owed to challenges related to onshore acquisition, shifting of utilities, and the method difficulties of tunnelling beneath built-up, high-traffic neighbourhoods, according to officials.
The underground conception acceptable to beryllium the city’s longest continuous metro passageway passes done immoderate of Bengaluru’s astir congested areas. When operational, the Pink Line volition supply seamless entree to respective important transit points, including M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, and Bengaluru Cantonment. It volition yet terminate astatine Nagawara, wherever commuters volition beryllium capable to interchange with the upcoming airdrome enactment being built nether Phase 2B.
