New Metro Lines In Bengaluru To Be Operational By December 2023: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

The extended Purple Line of Namma Metro in Bengaluru, from Challaghatta to Kadugodi (Whitefield), is set to become operational in September 2023, according to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

During his address on the 77th Independence Day at Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground on 15 August, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared that the current metro train network in Bengaluru spans 69.66 km, with approximately 6.1 lakh passengers utilising the facilities daily.

He also mentioned that the Baiyappanahalli-Krishnarajapura line and Kengeri-Challaghatta line expansion will be ready by September 2023.

By December 2023, the Nagasandra-Madavara extension on the Green Line and the new line between R.V. Road and Bommanahalli are expected to be operational.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah further revealed that Namma Metro aims to have a 175.55-km network in Bengaluru by 2026, making it the second-largest metro network in India.

Currently, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is conducting load tests on the Open Web Girder (OWG) for the Baiyappanahalli-Krishnarajapura line, reports The Hindu.

The completion of the missing two-kilometre segment, which was initially targeted for August, is being actively worked on by the BMRCL.

Passengers of the metro have been inconvenienced by the absence of a direct link, forcing them to rely on a feeder service for a distance of 5 km in order to reach KR Puram from Baiyappanahalli.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operates feeder services that are used by around 8,000 passengers daily.

The new K.R. Pura to Whitefield metro line is currently being utilised by approximately 27,000 passengers. It is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in ridership once the entire 15.5-km metro line is open to the public.

Purple Line

Once completed, the Purple Line will be a 43.5-km route that connects Challaghatta with Whitefield (Kadugodi), making travel between the eastern and western parts of the city smoother and faster.

The opening of the entire east-west corridor will drastically reduce travel time for passengers, making it a game-changer for the city's mobility landscape.

According to Parwez, it will take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel between Challaghatta and Whitefield (Kadugodi), whereas covering the same distance by bus or cab usually takes more than two hours during peak time.

An official stated that this will be the first time the Metro will travel out of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. Challaghatta station is located next to the newly opened elevated corridor of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.