Partial opening of Pink Line may increase congestion in Bengaluru

The proposed opening of the elevated section of the Pink Namma Metro Line is expected to improve connectivity for the residents of South Bengaluru. However, commuters have expressed concern that the partial opening could increase passenger congestion at the RV Road interchange, which could create a situation similar to the stampede currently being witnessed at the Majestic Metro station.

As the 13.8 km underground section of the Pink Line is still under construction, passengers traveling from south Bengaluru to the central and eastern parts of the city may have to make several transfers. This could increase pressure on existing interchanges, especially RV Road, where commuters would have to cross between metro corridors to reach their destinations.

Pink, yellow, green and purple lines

The concern is particularly significant for commuters on Whitefield, MG Road and other parts of the city. Until the entire Pink Line is operational, commuters can use a combination of the Pink, Yellow, Green and Purple Lines, depending on their destinations.

“RV Road Metro station is already so short of platform space. It could be even more crowded than Majestic and we may have to deal with this situation for a few months, especially during peak hours,” said Sunitha K., a commuter from Bilekahalli.

She said she hoped the entire Pink Line corridor would open, not just the elevated section, which she said was useless. “I expected the whole section to be operational. This partial opening is of little use to me. To get to MG Road, I will have to take the pink line to Jayadeva Hospital, change to the yellow line and travel to RV Road, change to the green line to reach Majestic and then change to the purple line. It would be easier to take an auto or taxi instead,” she said.

Advaith Raj, a resident of Hulimavu, said opening the underground section would make a substantial difference to commuters between south Bengaluru and the central business district. He said passengers from Hulimavu towards Whitefield would have to make several changes as part of the partial service arrangement. They would have to change from the Pink Line to the Yellow Line at Jayadeva Hospital, change to the Green Line at RV Road and then take the Purple Line from Majestic to Whitefield.

Once the entire Pink Line is operational, commuters from South Bengaluru will be able to travel directly to Central Bengaluru on the Pink Line before transferring to the Purple Line at MG Road to reach Whitefield, reducing the number of interchanges.

Will it evict commuters?

Residents fear that the additional changes could reduce the comfort of subway travel and increase the movement of passengers through already busy stations. However, not everyone believes that the partial opening will necessarily lead to a significant shift of commuters towards the metro.

Manoj Kumar, a resident of BTM Layout, said, “Additional interchanges and longer travel time could discourage some commuters from using the service and make them opt for buses, autos or taxis. Still, I believe the new stretch will attract commuters to Majestic and other destinations, so effective management of interchanges will be important.”

An official of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) said that passenger movement and crowd level on RV Road will be monitored after the elevated section becomes operational. “The company will assess passenger volumes, transfers and congestion during peak hours and take necessary measures, including regulation of passenger movement and deployment of additional staff whenever required,” the official said.

The Pink Line is a 21.3 km long corridor connecting Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru to Nagawara in the north. Its 7.5 km elevated section, comprising six stations between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, is likely to be inaugurated on November 13.

The remaining 13.8 km underground section will connect Dairy Circle to Nagawara via central Bengaluru and provide an important north-south metro link. Although tunneling and track-laying work has progressed, the underground section requires further systems-related work. Difficult ground conditions, including hard rock formations and unexpected underground obstacles, also contributed to the delays.

BMRCL is targeting the first half of 2027 to open the entire Pink Line corridor subject to completion of testing and statutory clearances.

Published – 03 Nov 2026 20:32 IST