BMRCL to Overhaul Phase 1 Namma Metro Trains in Phased Maintenance Drive

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is preparing to carry out a comprehensive midlife overhaul of the trains inducted during the first phase of Namma Metro. The trains, which have been operating in Bengaluru since 2011, have completed 15 years of commercial service and reached the midpoint of their expected 30-year lifespan.

Under the maintenance plan, each train will undergo a detailed inspection and servicing process lasting around 15 days. Some of the older trains have logged nearly 10 lakh km of travel. The overhaul will involve cleaning, minor repairs, and the replacement or servicing of crucial components, including engines and braking systems, to maintain passenger safety and operational reliability.

To prevent disruptions to regular commuter services, BMRCL is undertaking the maintenance exercise in a staggered manner. Older rakes will be pulled from service only as replacement capacity becomes available. The transition is supported by the planned induction of 21 new trains on the Yellow Line by September 2027, with four trains already delivered and awaiting inspection before deployment. Furthermore, 17 trains from the Yellow Line are being shifted to the Purple Line to balance operational requirements.

Namma Metro launched its initial operations on the Purple Line before expanding to the Green Line. While services originally ran with three-coach trains carrying 975 passengers, growing demand prompted a transition to six-coach formations with a capacity of 2,002 passengers. The network now accommodates roughly 10 lakh commuters each day, with heavy footfall recorded during morning and evening peak hours.

Key transfer points handle significant daily traffic, with the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro interchange station seeing an average of 1.70 lakh passengers and the RV Road interchange handling around 95,000 commuters daily.

Currently, the Green and Purple lines operate a combined fleet of 57 trains, while the Yellow Line has 15 trains. An additional eight trains are kept on standby for maintenance needs and operational emergencies. BMRCL officials stated that the phased overhaul programme will strengthen the condition of the ageing fleet while keeping regular urban transit moving smoothly.