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1h ago

Bengaluru Opens Elevated Section of Namma Metro Pink Line

The new 7.5 km elevated stretch began commercial service on Saturday, increasing pressure to finish the remaining underground link by mid-2027.

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Commuters on board a train on the Namma Metro’s newly inaugurated Pink Line on Saturday.
While the newly opened stretch offered a glimpse of the long-awaited metro connectivity along Bannerghatta Road, many commuters felt that its full potential would be realised only after the underground section becomes operational, connecting south Bengaluru with the Central Business District and northern parts of the city.

Overview

  • The Kalena Agrahara to Suddagunte Palya/Tavarekere elevated segment opened for public service on Saturday with trains starting at 6 a.m., taking Namma Metro past the 100 km mark to about 103 km.
  • The stretch serves six stations — Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIM Bangalore, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital, and Suddagunte Palya/Tavarekere — with published first/last train times and peak headways of eight minutes on weekdays.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the section on November 13 and rode the train during the launch, an event later recalled when Karnataka CM D. K. Shivakumar said Modi swiped his smart card to buy his ticket.
  • BMRCL says the new coaches built by BEML are driverless-capable and CBTC-compatible and include modern passenger amenities such as USB charging and updated information displays.
  • Political debate over who pays for metro expansion has intensified after the opening, with Karnataka citing a Rs 77,891 crore cumulative outlay and claiming an 84% state share while the BJP counters that sovereign-guaranteed foreign loans raise the Centre’s effective contribution above 50%.