Bengaluru: Daily commuters on Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Green Line may soon see relief from overcrowded platforms and packed coaches, as the first “Made in India” six-coach metro train manufactured by Titagarh Rail Systems has arrived at the Peenya Depot.

The arrival marks the beginning of a major Namma Metro fleet expansion aimed at reducing waiting times and easing peak-hour congestion on one of the city’s busiest metro corridors.

Rigorous testing before passenger service

Although the new Green Line metro train has reached Bengaluru, it will not immediately enter passenger service. Over the next eight weeks, engineers from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will conduct extensive safety and performance tests.

The evaluation includes night-time trial runs on the main line, during which the train must complete around 750 kilometres of trouble-free operation. These inspection and integration tests are intended to ensure the locally manufactured metro coaches function smoothly with the existing signalling and operational systems of the Namma Metro network.

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Possible launch by summer

If the testing phase proceeds as planned, the new six-coach trains are expected to begin regular operations by May or June.

The deployment is likely to coincide with the arrival of another metro train from Titagarh later this month, along with a prototype train earlier supplied from China.

With the addition of these trains, BMRCL aims to increase service frequency, particularly during the morning and evening rush-hour “crush load” periods on the Green Line corridor connecting Nagasandra and Silk Institute.

A technical source from BMRCL said the introduction of domestically manufactured metro trains is a major step for Bengaluru’s urban transport system.

“The addition of these indigenous trains is a milestone for Bengaluru’s infrastructure. It supports the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative while providing a practical solution to the daily commute challenges faced by thousands of metro passengers,” the official said.

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Larger rolling stock expansion planned

The arrival of the Green Line metro train is part of a broader Namma Metro rolling stock upgrade programme.

From April onwards, attention will shift to the much-awaited Yellow Line, with Titagarh Rail Systems scheduled to deliver seven additional trains for the corridor.

Following this, 18 more metro trains are expected to be delivered in phases. These will be distributed across both the Purple Line and Green Line, helping the Namma Metro network accommodate the rapidly increasing ridership in Bengaluru.

The expansion is expected to significantly improve metro capacity, service frequency and passenger comfort, addressing long-standing congestion issues on key routes of the city’s metro system.