Bi-RIDE places Rs 1,514 crore order with ICF for Bengaluru metro rail coaches

Bengaluru: Bengaluru suburban rail project nodal agency Bi-RIDE has issued a Rs 1,514 crore work order to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for supply of 153 air-conditioned broad-gauge metro-type coaches for Corridors two and four.

The contract was formalised on May 6, said Bi-RIDE in a statement. ICF is expected to begin the coach deliveries within 18 months. The deadline is tied to the targeted inauguration of the Chikkabanawara-Yeshwanthpur stretch under Corridor two, the statement added.

Corridor two spans 25 km between Benniganahalli and Chikkabanavara, while Corridor four stretches 47 km from Heelalige to Rajanukunte.


Bi-RIDE said the timeline is aligned with directions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) review meeting in December 2025. A formal MoU between the two organisations will be signed shortly, the statement said.

The statement further added that beyond manufacturing, ICF's scope includes detailed design, quality inspection, integration, testing and commissioning of the rolling stock. It must also obtain statutory clearances from the research and development wing of Ministry of Railways, Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).

ICF will coordinate with contractors handling signalling, traction, power supply and platform screen doors. It must also comply with RAMS standards (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety), the statement said.

"This work order is a historic milestone for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project. This synchronisation will help deliver a world-class suburban rail network to the citizens of Bengaluru without any delay," said Laxman Singh, managing director, Bi-RIDE, in a statement.

The project was aimed to ease traffic congestion in the IT hub but has seen several delays. The rolling stock contract signals it is now moving toward execution in a short period, added the statement.