First 6-car metro in green line inaugurated

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday flagged off the first six-car train on the Green Line of Namma Metro, between Yelachenahalli and Nagasandra.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) also inducted two additional six-car trains on the Purple Line between Baiyappanahalli and Mysuru Road.

The six-car trains, with a capacity to carry close to 2,000 passengers, will be in operation during the peak hours. The first coach of the six-car metro train is reserved for women commuters.

Namma Metro Green Line is 24.2 km long and has 23 stations. The Purple Line spans across 18.1 km and has 17 stations. According to the BMRCL, an average of four lakh passengers travel on both the lines daily.

According to the BMRCL officials, the six-car trains have improved energy efficiency and is expected to save 15% energy compared to the three-car trains in operation.

Other features of the new train include a split screen LCD panel for undisturbed passenger information and continuous advertisement display .

“The peak hour traffic on the Green Line is 10,000 passengers compared to 19,000 passengers on the Purple Line (Baiyappanahalli-Mysuru Road). Considering commuters’ demand, we have inducted one six-car train on the Green Line,” a BMRCL official said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the tragic death of a baby girl who fell from a Namma Metro escalator at Srirampura station on Sunday night, the Chief Minister said: “I have directed the BMRCL officials to take precaution against such accidents, and parents have to take care of their kids while traveling on the metro as well.”

Hasini, the baby girl aged about two years, died on Monday morning at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH).