Bengaluru’s metro data reveals surprising travel trends through interactive visualisation

A new data visualisation project offers fresh insights into the daily usage patterns of Bengaluru's Metro network. Created by transport enthusiasts Vivek Matthew and Aman Bhargav, the initiative pulls data from a staggering 1.4 million rows provided by BMRCL in response to an RTI query.

Also read: Bengaluru Metro Yellow Line gets 5th train, services to run every 15 minutes soon

Most popular route is from Benniganahalli to Majestic

The project’s standout finding is the surge in foot traffic at the RV Road Metro Station, which has grown from 15,000 to over 75,000 passengers per day following the launch of the Yellow Line. Among the most popular routes in the city is the commute from Benniganahalli to Majestic, with more than 2,500 daily riders. This route’s popularity may signal high demand for the upcoming Blue Line, expected to ease congestion on the ORR, particularly as Benniganahalli serves as a key hub for commuters connecting to air-conditioned buses heading to tech parks.

Matthew and Bhargav sifted through detailed data, revealing important travel patterns. For instance, ridership on weekdays peaks at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., while weekends show a steady rise from noon onwards. Stations like Majestic and Yeshwantpur see early activity on weekdays, while Yellow Line stations remain busy later in the day.

The duo's ultimate goal is to make such data publicly accessible without the need for RTI requests, encouraging government transparency and enabling data-driven improvements in public transport policy.