On May 12, 2025, a subway tunnel near the Bamboo Market Station in Bangalore is underway. |Photo source: Sudhakara Jain
The city’s highly anticipated Namma Metro Pink series, initially expected to be operational in 2020, before being pushed into December 2025, will miss the deadline again.
Bengaluru Metro Company Limited (BMRCL) now says the corridor will function in two phases – the elevated section extending 7.5 km between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere and will open by March 2026, while the 13.8 km underground section is completed from the dairy circle to the underground circle of Nagawara by September 2026.
The pink line totals 21.3 km and is part of the second phase of the city’s subway network expansion. Its purpose is to connect the south of Kalena Agrahara on Bannerghatta Road to the outer ring road in the north of the city.
According to BMRCL officials, the alignment includes 13.8 km of underground track and 7.5 km of overpass.
BMRCL built a 7.5km elevated extension in 2017, floating the tender.
Delayed due to underground work
Despite significant progress in laying tracks and civil engineering in parts online, officials acknowledged that the underground section posed a significant engineering challenge.
They said the tunneling process was particularly arduous due to the rocky terrain in Bangalore. “Soil conditions include large granite and leafy boulders. While granite is already very difficult, leafy rocks are even more difficult,” said a senior official.
One of the most important parts of the pink line is the 2.2 km between Shivajinagar and Vellara. According to officials, the complexity of the tunnel has greatly delayed progress in this extension, resulting in duplicate rescheduling of project schedules.
In October 2024, BMRCL achieved an important milestone by completing tunneling for the longest underground metro corridor now. Although the length of the underground section is 14 kilometers, the tunnel operation extends to 21 kilometers due to the dual tunnel system.
Frustration grows among commuters
For many Bangalore residents, the pink line remains a long-term solution to the city’s deteriorating traffic distress. Commuters who often travel in the northern, southern and central business districts (CBD) areas are impatient with constant delays.
“Each delay means another two hours of traffic every day. I hope to use the pink line now. We need accountability, not just the deadline for revisions,” said Nandita Rao, a resident of Bannerghatta Road, whose workplace is on MG Road.
“Since my office was there, I had to go to Bannagarta Road to Bannagarta Road to go to Bannagarta Road to work every day. Now, I rely entirely on my bike. If the pink line gets easier, it will make my life easier, which will make my life easier. It feels like BMRCL, just like BMRCL keeps up with good promises, and we still need to do that. Connectivity promised five years ago.”
Train production on pink lines
Meanwhile, regarding the trains on this line, in August 2023, Bengaluru-based public sector department Beml Ltd. was awarded a contract to manufacture and maintain 318 metro trains (53 trains) within 15 years. These include 96 coaches designated as the pink line, and 222 coaches at the blue line – covering stages 2A and periods 2B.
BMRCL added the fleet in March 2025 to award additional orders to Beml Ltd., which is specifically targeting the pink series. Beml Ltd. has committed to delivering the prototype train by June 2025, a critical step before starting a full deployment.
publishing – May 13, 2025 11:23 pm ist
