BMRCL adds early Monday metro services on Yellow Line after commuter protest

New 5:05 a.m. and 5:35 a.m. trains aim to ease Monday crowding; more coaches expected in December to reduce congestion.

In a move aimed at reducing Monday morning congestion, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has rolled out two early morning services on the Yellow Line. The decision follows a protest on November 17 at the R.V. Road Metro Station, where passengers arriving from the Green Line objected to the late start of Yellow Line operations.

According to officials, the new services will now run at 5:05 a.m. and 5:35 a.m. every Monday from both R.V. Road and Bommasandra. This change is designed to support the heavy flow of commuters who enter the city early after weekend travel. On other weekdays, trains will continue to start at 6 a.m., and on Sundays the first service will run at 7 a.m.

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Reports indicate that the lack of an early service on the Yellow Line created difficulties for those reaching Majestic during the early hours. Many were able to board the Green Line, which begins at 5 a.m., but were left stranded at R.V. Road without a connecting train. The protest that followed resulted in commuters blocking train doors, causing a delay of nearly 35 minutes. Police intervention was required to restore operations.

Regular travellers have welcomed the new timing, stating that it reduces their dependence on road transport early in the morning. However, there are also demands for increasing the frequency and introducing early operations throughout the week to avoid a repeat of overcrowding.

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The 19.15-km R.V. Road–Bommasandra corridor, a key link for those travelling to Electronics City, continues to face pressure due to limited train availability. The line currently operates with trains at 15-minute intervals during peak hours, supported by one standby train. Since its inauguration on August 10, the Yellow Line has dealt with crowding due to the initial deployment of only three trainsets. This resulted in long gaps of around 25 minutes, which were later reduced as additional trains were added in September and November.

Further relief is expected soon as Titagarh Rail Systems Limited has dispatched coaches for the sixth trainset, scheduled to be added in December. This addition is likely to shorten wait times and ease the load during peak travel periods, bringing more stability to the network as rider numbers continue to grow.