First six-car metro train launched in Bengaluru

coastaldigest.com web desk

June 22, 2018

Bengaluru, Jun 22: The much-awaited first six-car Metro coach of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) hit the tracks in Karnataka capital today.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy flagged off the train from a decked up Byappanahalli metro station in the presence of deputy CM G Parameshwara and Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri. The CM, along with dignitaries, also traveled in the new six-coach train till Kempegowda Majestic Metro station.

The new six car train which will have one coach reserved for women will run along the Purple Line (Byappanahalli - Mysuru Road) and is expected to help meet peak hour rush. The Purple line was chosen since it is busier than the Green line.

With the addition of three coaches, each train will now be able to carry 1950 passengers, almost double the existing capacity of 975. BMRCL currently runs 50 three-car trains on both lines in a day.

Last Sunday also marked a year of the completion of Phase 1. In the last one year, Phase 1 registered a ridership of over 12 crore, with an average ridership of 3.3 lakh every day on the 42km network and is expected to touch 5 lakh.

It may be recalled that Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) had handed over the first three intermediate cars to BMRCL on February 14. Following several trial runs, BMRCL recently obtained safety clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) and railway board. The second batch of three cars is expected to be delivered by BEML next month and subsequent addition of coaches will not require safety clearance from CRS, and internal safety checks would suffice.

In March last year, BEML bagged the Rs 1,421-crore order to supply 150 sets of intermediate cars to expand the existing three-car trains by June 2019. This will convert all three car trains to six by the end of next year.

In June last year, the Karnataka government and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) had promised three additional coaches for at least one or two trains by December, 2017. However, BMRCL missed several deadlines.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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