Modi Launches Yellow Line, Expands Bengaluru’s Namma Metro to 96 km

Swift Summary

• Yellow Line Inauguration: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Bengaluru’s 19.15-km Yellow line of the Namma Metro, connecting R.V.Road to Bommasandra and raising the city’s metro network to 96 km (2nd largest in India after Delhi Metro). Revenue services begin Monday with a maximum fare of ₹60.
• Metro Expansion: The Yellow Line, envisioned in 2011 and delayed due to land acquisition issues, COVID-19 disruptions, and rolling stock supply delays from Chinese manufacturer CRRC Nanjing, aims to ease traffic congestion at major bottlenecks like Silk Board Junction. It integrates with other metro lines at key junctions.
• Projected Usage: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) estimates daily passenger usage will reach over 2.5 lakh once the full fleet becomes fully operational.
• Phase 3 Launch: PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Phase 3 (Orange Line), which is scheduled for completion by 2029. This phase will serve underserved areas such as Magadi Road and western Outer Ring Road and is expected to accommodate around 7.85 lakh commuters daily upon completion.

Other Key Highlights:

• PM flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains from KSR Bengaluru Station:

– Bengaluru-Belagavi service reduces travel time by up to ~1 hour & 40 minutes; Karnataka now hosts a total of eleven Vande Bharat services.
– Two additional trains (to Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar & Nagpur-Pune) were launched virtually.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The inauguration of the Yellow Line comes as a significant boost for Bengaluru’s public transport infrastructure amidst ongoing efforts to address its notorious traffic woes. Although delayed by nearly four years due to external challenges like land disputes and COVID-related disruptions, this corridor is now poised to drive considerable modal shift among commuters – particularly those traveling between Electronic City’s IT hub and residential areas.

Concurrently laying groundwork for Phase 3 demonstrates strategic urban planning aimed at building long-term transport sustainability for an expanding metropolis like Bengaluru-which continues grappling with vehicular congestion despite steady investments in mass transit systems.

On railway infrastructure, launching more Vande Bharat Express services underscores India’s commitment toward enhancing regional connectivity through semi-high-speed rail solutions tailored for efficiency-conscious passengers shifting away traditional slower counterparts!

Read more here