Nandini plans 120 new Bengali salons after metro line Amul: What’s behind the expansion | Today’s news
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is expanding the footprint of its milk brand Nandini in Bengaluru and plans to open 120 new dairies across the city, including 30 locations outside metro stations and another 90 within Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits, The Hindu reported.
The move comes after an earlier controversy over Amul kiosks at Bengaluru Metro stations and KMF’s push to make Nandini products more available at high-reach locations.
According to a report in The Hindu, KMF has received permission from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to set up 30 Nandini lounges outside metro stations.
Why is Nandini expanding near metro stations
A senior KMF official told The Hindu that the federation held several meetings with BMRCL before getting permission for the 30 outlets.
Unlike the kiosks that Amul has opened inside metro stations, the new Nandini outlets will be located outside the stations. KMF does not plan to set up kiosks in the metro area under the existing modifications.
The federation sees locations in metro neighborhoods as an opportunity to reach out to consumers who need daily dairy products like milk and paneer.
What was the Amul-Nandini row about
The expansion also comes in the backdrop of the Amul-Nandini dispute in Bengaluru.
In June 2025, Amul set up kiosks at Benniganahalli and Baiyappanahalli metro stations. The move drew backlash from Kannada activists and drew criticism from the KMF, dairy farmers and the Janata Dal (Secular).
Amul has also entered into an agreement with BMRCL to set up more kiosks at metro stations. The matter became politically contentious after Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah suggested that Amul and the Nandini could work together.
The Karnataka government subsequently pushed for Nandini outlets in metro locations. After that, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asked KMF to approach BMRCL to request space for setting up Nandini outlets.
However, the current plan includes 30 Nandini lounges outside metro stations rather than kiosks inside them.
KMF plans 90 more salons across GBA
The expansion is not limited to metro-adjacent locations.
KMF has also received permission to set up around 90 Nandini salons at amenity locations within the GBA limits, though the location is yet to be finalised.
Karnataka has more than 3,000 Nandini dairies, of which about 1,500 are located in Bengaluru. These outlets sell Nandini products including milk, ice cream, paneer, sweets and beverages.
What the expansion means for Nandini
The planned 120 branches would give KMF another channel to expand Nandini’s reach in Bengaluru, especially in places where consumers already have regular contact.
The strategy also places the state-owned dairy brand closer to public transport hubs and civic spaces, rather than relying solely on conventional retail and franchise outlets.
