Bengaluru Metro Pink Line to open on November 14; trains every eight minutes, fares await confirmation

The new corridor will initially operate trains at eight-minute intervals, with five trainsets allocated for the service. Four trains will be deployed for regular operations, while the fifth will remain on standby to ensure operational reliability. Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the frequency could be improved once the signalling system stabilises and passenger demand is assessed.

The elevated section will serve six stations: Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, Bilekahalli-IIMB, NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital and SG Palya. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved the renaming of three stations, replacing IIMB with Bilekahalli-IIMB, JP Nagar 4th Phase with NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase, and Tavarekere with SG Palya.

The Jayadeva Hospital station will be a particularly important interchange, connecting the Pink Line with the existing Yellow Line towards Electronic City. This connection will enable commuters travelling from Bannerghatta Road and surrounding residential areas to access other parts of Bengaluru's Metro network more conveniently.

Passenger services are scheduled to commence at 6 am on Saturday, November 14. The inauguration will mark another milestone in Bengaluru's Metro expansion, taking the city's operational network beyond 100 kilometres to approximately 103.6 kilometres.

Although fare estimates circulating ahead of the inauguration suggest ticket prices ranging from ₹10 to ₹30 for selected journeys, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has not yet officially confirmed the fare structure for the new section. Commuters have therefore been advised to await the final fare announcement rather than rely on unofficial charts.

The Pink Line forms part of a larger corridor extending approximately 21.26 kilometres between Kalena Agrahara and Nagawara. While the elevated stretch is ready for passenger operations, the remaining underground section, comprising 12 stations, is still under construction and is targeted for completion in 2027.

The new service is expected to benefit residents, students, hospital visitors and working professionals travelling along the busy Bannerghatta Road corridor. Its integration with the Yellow Line at Jayadeva Hospital is also expected to provide an alternative to road travel for commuters heading towards Electronic City and other employment centres.

With the Pink Line becoming operational, Bengaluru will take another step towards expanding its mass rapid transit infrastructure. The immediate focus will be on ensuring reliable train operations, improving frequency as demand increases and completing the remaining underground corridor to establish a continuous north-south Metro connection across the city.