New BEML Coach for Delhi Metro Catches Fire in Bangalore

On this Sunday, a new coach built by BEML Ltd. for Delhi Metro’s Red & Blue lines caught fire after it got in contact with a live electrical wire in southern Bangalore’s Konappana Agrahara Village. The coach was being transported on top of a trailer, like it typically is, and the driver of the logistics company was able to escape with no injuries.

Valued at Rs 8.8 crores, the coach is part of a 96-coach contract (package RS-13) which the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation signed in May 2015 for Rs. 846.25 crores with deliveries commencing in January 2017. This contract along with a 162-coach contract (package RS-11) with Bombardier for Rs. 1497.98 crores were signed in 2015 with an aim to augment capacity on the network’s Red (Line-1), Yellow (Line-2) and Blue (Line-3/4) lines.

The coach was oddly being transported via a longer circuitous route through NH-44 (old NH-7) and was about to turn towards the NICE Peripheral Road when the incident occurred on the highway’s northbound lanes. The local Electronics City police is investigating the incident, and at this point, no further details are available on whether parts of it can still be salvaged or not.

Some images via TMRG follower Sathvik Ashok:

Photo Copyright: Sathvik Ashok

Photo Copyright: Sathvik Ashok

Photo Copyright: Sathvik Ashok

For more updates, check out the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

15 Responses to "New BEML Coach for Delhi Metro Catches Fire in Bangalore"

  1. Narayan says:

    Bmrc is in the worse stage of evaluating quality of vendors. in most metro project consultants are appointed and they evaluate vendor quality in best way and bmrc is special case where there is no Project consultant and bmrc itself acts as PC. They are bureaucratic and compromise on quality . Citizens saw fundamentally somewhere of other at location where contractor executing excavation , drilling , using poor quality drilling mud fluid , collapses near kengeri , concrete honeycombs on every wall , girder , joints , throwing up non bio degradable drilling slurry on road sides or compacting the same or backfilling etc etc . There is no environment conservation nor safety. The road barriers fell on road near kengeri , still no one cares. New packages again and extension. Where is quality in drilling processes, where is energy and environment conservation . It’s disappointing .bmrc staff have no time and they don’t care. Pathetic situation in Bangalore.

    Reply
  2. Aditya says:

    Are you sure these coaches from BEML were to be used in Red, Blue, Yellow line. I thought these lines had rolling stock from Bombardier and Hyundai.. BEML coaches were used in Green, Violet lines.
    If they are to be used in Red line and others can you share an image how would they look like??

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Hi, Hyundai Rotem’s Indian partner is BEML with which they have a transfer of tech agreement to manufacturer coaches locally.

      All lines, barring the Airport Express Line, have BEML trains deployed in some capacity:

      Phase 1 lines: Red, Yellow, Blue (broad gauge, 3.2 m wide trains)
      Phase 2 lines: Violet, Green (standard gauge, 2.9 m wide trains)
      Phase 3 lines: Pink, Magenta (standard gauge, 3.2 m wide trains)

      The first few tech demonstration trains for each phase have always come from South Korea, but the rest have or will be manufactured in Bangalore – see this post.

      Here’s an image of one of them on the Blue Line. I’m sure you’ve seen them, but the name must not have rung a bell since they’re often simply referred to as “Rotem” or “Hyundai Rotem”.

      Reply
      • Aditya says:

        So these new coaches are going to look just like the coach you shared in the image???

        Reply
      • Raju says:

        Coaches are assembled with imported part in BEML plant, not manufactured. It’s like packing the material. It’s hell in future without completely manufacturing

        Reply
        • TMRG says:

          Hi, some parts are locally manufactured as well. BEML, Bombardier and Alstom have built a robust supplier group within the country which employs at least 80k people.

          The plant of course only assembles them.

          Reply
  3. KRISHNAN says:

    This is heart breaking images !.Huge loss of public property.Hope it does not delay the BMRCL 6 coaches conversion order.

    As per today news paper BMRCL may get some of the trains from December itself

    6-car Metro by Dec, one coach for women soon, says George
    ——————————————————————————–

    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/615927/6-car-metro-dec-one.html

    Reply
    • Adi says:

      Theis coach was meant for Delhi Metro not Bangalore Metro. It was being transported from Bangalore factory to Delhi. This will not impact BMRCL 6 coaches conversion order.

      Reply
  4. Santosh says:

    To the author of this article, there is a slight mistake in the article and the above coach which was being transported was part of RS10 project, not the RS13 project. RS10 contract is bagged by Hyundai Rotem and in turn, sub contracted it to BEML.

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      RS10? That’s interesting; I’ll have to check. If true, this will be the 2nd major incident for the Hyundai Rotems even before they begin services. First incident was that freak collision at Kalindi Kunj.

      Reply
  5. Mayank says:

    Who’s going to pay for this?

    Reply
  6. Raghu says:

    Insurance company ll pay…

    Reply

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