11 hours ago
3
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has initiated an internal investigation into the derailment of a train on the Namma Metro’s Yellow Line at the Hebbagodi depot. The incident occurred in the early hours of January 15, when a driverless train set went off the tracks on the depot premises.
According to officials, the Train Set 3 derailed at approximately 5.30 a.m. inside the depot. The BMRCL constituted a six-member in-house fact-finding committee the following day, January 16, to examine the sequence of events that led to the mishap and to determine accountability.
According to sources, preliminary inputs indicate that the derailment caused damage to certain track supports and components associated with the traction system and rolling stock. The precise scale of the damage and the financial implications are yet to be assessed.
“A detailed technical evaluation is under way to know the exact reason for the incident. Only after the inquiry is completed and all inspections are finalised will we be in a position to quantify the extent of the structural and equipment damage, as well as the cost of restoration,” a senior official said.
Elaborating on the committee’s mandate, the official said, “The panel has been tasked with establishing an accurate and evidence-based account of the incident. It will examine operational logs, signalling data, maintenance records, and staff deployment details to identify every factor that may have contributed to the derailment. The objective is to present a comprehensive report to the management, along with clear findings and recommendations to prevent any recurrence.”
The official added that the inquiry would also closely examine human and procedural aspects. “The functioning and responsibilities of the train operator, depot controller, and other personnel concerned are being thoroughly scrutinised. We are assessing whether established standard operating procedures were adhered to and if there were any lapses in coordination, supervision, or system response,” the official said.
The 19.15-km Yellow Line, connecting R.V. Road and Bommasandra and serving the technology hub of Electronics City, was inaugurated in August 2025. Though designed for fully automated, driverless (GoA-4) operations, the corridor is currently functioning in semi-automated GoA-2 mode, with drivers present onboard.
The line presently runs with a fleet of around seven trains. Since its operation, services have progressively improved from initial 25-minute intervals to peak-hour frequencies of 10-15 minutes. On weekdays, the line records an average ridership of nearly one lakh passengers.
English (US) ·