ELCITA proposes Bengaluru’s first Metro Neo network

The Electronics City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA) has proposed Bengaluru’s first Metro Neo network, a 5 km network connecting tech companies with two upcoming stations on the Yellow Line of the Bengaluru Metro.

According to officials, a trolleybus system with overhead electric traction, the Metro Neo network in Bengaluru is likely to be called Tech Halli Express.

An ELCITA official told the media that the Metro Neo network is now planned to have a 5 km network in the first phase with 10 stations — Infosys Foundation, Konappana Agrahara Station, Timken, Velankani, 3M India, Phase-3, Wipro, Infosys, Electronics, Interflex, Happiest Minds, Electronics City Metro Station.

The official said that the Metro Neo service consists of electric bus coaches of lengths ranging from 18 to 25 metres with a carrying capacity of 250 passengers at a time. These buses will have rubber tyres, draw power from an overhead electric wire similar to railways or trams, and would have elevated roads.

According to officials, Metro Neo coaches will be smaller and lighter than conventional Metro trains. They will be fully air-conditioned and equipped with an automatic door-closing system, comfortable seats, an announcement system, level boarding, and an information system with an electronic display.

A detailed project report (DPR) on the proposal will be prepared within six months.

In the Union budget, the Centre had last year made a sizeable budgetary allocation for Metro Neo, which is considered to be a low-cost urban rail transit system strived at cities with less than 10 lakh population.

The Centre had also asked all state governments to consider using Metro Neo technology in their tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Nashik in Maharashtra is the first city in India to get a Metro Neo network.

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Also read: Budget 2022: Centre allocates Rs 19,130 cr for metro projects