Full fleet of 21 new six-coach trains to be deployed on Green Line, easing congestion on Purple Line

Some relief is in sight for Bengaluru’s Namma Metro commuters, with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) planning to deploy the entire fleet of 21 new six-coach trains supplied by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) on the Green Line.

The move is expected to significantly ease congestion on the Purple Line, the busiest corridor in the city’s metro network, as existing Green Line train sets will be shifted to the Purple Line.

The Namma Metro officials said that the plan involves shifting existing Phase-1 train sets currently operating on the Green Line to the 43-km Purple Line corridor between Whitefield and Challaghatta. “With passenger numbers steadily rising on the Purple Line, the reallocation is expected to improve headways and reduce overcrowding, especially during peak hours,” an official said.

A prototype CRRC train, manufactured in China, arrived in Bengaluru in January, 2025, after several years of delay. Although it was originally meant to be inducted on the Purple Line, the BMRCL is now planning to induct it on the Green Line. The official said, “All 21 CRRC train sets, including the prototype and the remaining 20 rakes expected to arrive gradually by the middle of this year, will be deployed exclusively on the Green Line.”

“As all 21 new train sets will be housed at the Peenya depot, which is part of the Green Line infrastructure. Once these trains are commissioned, 17 existing Phase-1 train sets will be shifted to the Purple Line. In net terms, the Purple Line will gain 17 additional trains, while the Green Line will see a net increase of four trains,” the official added.

DTG trains

The new CRRC trains are DTG (distance-to-go) enabled and are similar in design to the CBTC-equipped trains planned for the Yellow Line (Electronics City corridor). They are expected to offer improved passenger amenities.

Following their arrival, the prototype and subsequent train sets will undergo extensive trials and safety checks. Approvals will be required from statutory agencies such as the Research Designs and Standards Organisation and the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety before passenger services can begin.

“Subject to all mandatory clearances, we have planned to press the prototype CRRC train into service on the Green Line by March, 2026,” the official said.

Delays

The induction of the new trains comes after a prolonged delay. In 2019, the CRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches to the BMRCL. However, the project ran into hurdles after the CRRC failed to establish a manufacturing facility in India, a key contractual requirement. This led the BMRCL to issue multiple notices to the company and consider encashing a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.

To resolve these issues, the CRRC later partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems, a Kolkata-based firm, to manufacture and supply the remaining coaches in India.