Bengaluru metro suicides rise; Push for platform screen doors gains urgency

With at least 10 suicides and attempts reported this year across Namma Metro stations, commuters and officials say Platform Screen Doors are now essential for preventing tragedies.

A troubling rise in suicides and suicide attempts across Bengaluru Metro stations has pushed commuters and officials to call for immediate safety upgrades. From January to December this year alone, a minimum of ten such incidents have been reported from different stations, turning metro platforms into frequent distress points.

Passengers and safety observers say these incidents underline one urgent solution: Platform Screen Doors (PSD). Cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi already have PSDs in several stations, and experts argue that Bengaluru can no longer delay the move. According to commuters, without PSDs, it is impossible to completely prevent people from falling or intentionally jumping onto the tracks.

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The debate intensified after a recent tragedy in which Shantanagouda Patil died by suicide after falling onto the tracks at the Kengeri Metro Station. The incident has triggered strong public reaction and renewed pressure on Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to act quickly.

Responding to the growing concern, BMRCL has now given a green signal for PSD installation in select stations. The first major rollout is expected on the Pink Line, a corridor currently under construction between Kalena Agrahara and Nagawara. Officials confirmed that PSDs are being planned for all 12 underground stations on this route.

Each station is estimated to require around ₹9 crore for installation, making it a significant but necessary investment to prevent further accidents and suicides. Work on the Pink Line is still ongoing, and PSD integration will be aligned with the construction timelines.

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Public sentiment remains firm: PSDs are no longer an option but a mandatory safety requirement. With cases continuing to rise, passengers say Bengaluru must prioritise protecting lives as Metro ridership increases every year.