Bengaluru Metro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Formally Inaugurates Two Purple Line Extensions

Eleven days after opening for commercial operations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated two sections of the Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line to the nation via video conference.

The first segment covers a distance of 2.10 km between Krishnarajapura and Baiyappanahalli, with an intermediate station at Benniganahalli. The second segment, spanning 2.05 km, runs from Kengeri to Challaghatta.

These additions successfully complete the East-West corridor which now extends from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta, covering a total length of 43.49 km and featuring 37 metro stations.

With the inauguration of these sections, the operational network of BMRCL has expanded from 69.66 km to 73.81 km, boasting a total of 66 metro stations.

The inauguration event took place in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, where the Prime Minister also launched the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System and flagged off India's first 'Namo Bharat' train connecting Shahibabad to Duhai depot.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar participated in the event from the Chief Minister's Home Office.

"The two Bengaluru Metro Rail lines will enhance connectivity and are expected to serve approximately eight lakh daily commuters. I extend my congratulations to the people of Karnataka on this Metro rail line launch," stated the Prime Minister.

Since the launch of the two new stretches on 9 October, the Bengaluru Metro has experienced a significant increase in its daily ridership, with an average addition of one lakh passengers. It reached an all-time high of 7.5 lakh riders on 13 October, demonstrating consistent growth in patronage.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the Nagawara to Madhavara line, covering 3.14 km, and the R V Road to Bommasandra Line (Yellow Line), spanning 19.15 km, were both in their final stages of completion and would open by April 2024, reports The New Indian Express.

The Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara Line, covering 21.26 km, will be operational by March 2025, expanding the Metro network by a total of 117 km.

Following this, Metro Phase 2A/2B (Outer Ring Road Line and the Airport Line) is set to open in 2026, further extending the network to 176 km with a projected daily ridership of 20 lakh. Karnataka has already allocated Rs 4,725.36 crore for the project.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the Centre to expedite approvals for Metro Phase-3 (Corridor-1 from J P Nagar 4th phase to Kempapura and Corridor-2 from Hosahalli to Kadabgere).

The Detailed Project Report for Metro Phase-3A from Sarjapur to Hebbal is in progress.