Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line to open in two phases by 2026; BMRCL clarifies timeline

While Deputy CM DK Shivakumar announced that the full Pink Line would open by May 2026, BMRCL officials confirmed a two-phase launch, with the elevated section ready by May and the underground stretch by December 2026.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has clarified the opening schedule for the much-awaited Namma Metro Pink Line, after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s recent social media post created confusion about its timeline.

Shivakumar had claimed that the entire 21.26-km line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagavara would be operational by May 2026. However, BMRCL officials have now confirmed that the project will be opened in two stages due to the varying pace of construction.

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The first phase, a 7.5-km elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, is expected to become operational by May 2026. This corridor runs entirely along Bannerghatta Road and will include six metro stations: Tavarekere, Jayadeva Hospital, JP Nagar 4th Phase, IIMB, Hulimavu, and Kalena Agrahara.

According to officials, this segment is “nearly complete”, with only minor finishing works pending. The Jayadeva Hospital station, notably the tallest metro station in South India, will also serve as an important interchange on the city’s network.

The second phase, comprising a 13.76-km underground stretch between Dairy Circle and Nagavara, will take longer to complete and is expected to be ready by December 2026. This section will include 12 stations, passing through key areas such as Dairy Circle, MG Road, and Nagavara, and will feature the network’s fourth interchange station at MG Road.

Although tunnelling work for the underground section was completed in December 2024, system installation and interior works are still in progress. Civil and track-laying between Dairy Circle and Shivajinagar are almost done, while the setup of Electronic Control Systems (ECS), Tunnel Ventilation Systems (TVS), firefighting pipelines, Automated Fare Collection (AFC) gates, and signalling systems continues.

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Preparations are also underway for full-height Platform Screen Doors (PSDs), with a prototype already installed at MG Road station.

On the Cantonment–Nagavara stretch, tracks have been laid up to Venkateshpura, and work is advancing towards KG Halli. Officials said 95% of station work here is complete, with escalators, lifts, and electrical systems largely installed. Once system integration is complete, focus will shift to interior finishing, including ceilings, fire doors, and granite flooring.

Meanwhile, BMRCL is preparing to receive the first prototype of the driverless train for the Pink Line from BEML by the end of November 2025. The train will undergo static testing at the Kothanur depot, followed by trial runs on the mainline. In total, 23 driverless trains will be deployed for the Pink Line corridor.

The Pink Line, once fully operational, will significantly improve connectivity between South Bengaluru and North Bengaluru, easing pressure on existing routes and reducing travel time across the city’s key commercial and residential zones.

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