Prime Minister flags off first Yellow Line Metro train, services open to public from 6.30am today
Namma Metro
map now boasts a vibrant yellow. The long-awaited 19km elevated corridor from RV Road to Bommasandra, with 16 stations built at a cost of Rs 7,600 crore, was inaugurated Sunday by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
, who flagged off the first train from Ragigudda station.
Earlier in the day, the PM also launched three Vande Bharat Express trains, including the Bengaluru-Belagavi service, which he said would boost trade and tourism in Belagavi. Services between Nagpur-Pune and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar were also launched.
After flagging off the Yellow Line, he boarded the train, travelling to Konappana Agrahara with chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, and other dignitaries.
Commercial operations of the new line will begin on Monday at 6.30am and run until 11pm.
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Speaking at the inaugural event at the International Institute of Information Technology-Bengaluru, Modi, praising a new funding model for public infrastructure, said: "The likes of Infosys Foundation, Biocon, and Delta Electronics have provided part-funding for key Metro stations. This innovative use of CSR (corporate social responsibility) is a source of inspiration."
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He pointed to the scale of India's infrastructure growth since 2014 and said that from being limited to just five cities, Metro networks today span over 1,000km across 24 cities, making India home to the third-largest Metro network globally.
"Bengaluru has played a significant role in this transformation," he said, stressing that collaboration between the Centre and the states, coupled with "continuous reform efforts", would take Karnataka to new heights.
"Together, we will fulfil the vision of Viksit Bharat," he added.
Now & in future
Initially, three trains will operate at a frequency of 25 minutes. End-to-end travel is likely to cost Rs 60. At the beginning, the service is expected to carry 25,000 to 30,000 passengers per day. However, with full-fledged operations by March 2026, the Yellow Line is projected to serve 2.5 lakh passengers daily, helping Namma Metro's overall ridership cross the 10 lakh mark.
Prior to boarding the train, officials briefed the PM on the Yellow Line's alignment and features, including the construction of Jayadeva Interchange station, the tallest Metro station in the city with a six-level structure.
In March 2023, while launching the extension of the Purple Line from KR Pura to Whitefield, Modi had used the National Common Mobility Card to access the paid area of the Namma Metro. This time, he purchased a QR code ticket using a vending machine at the station.
The CM and DCM also used QR tickets for their travel. During the journey, the PM interacted with a group of students who had the rare chance of travelling on the inaugural train.
Modi also laid foundation for Phase III of the Metro project — a 45km network covering JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura on the west side of Outer Ring Road, and Hosahalli to Kadabagere on Magadi Road.
Bangalore Rural MP CN Manjunath said: "Both the central and state govts together have achieved this. I congratulate both govts. For health purposes, we need BMW — bicycle, Metro and walking. This reduces pollution and traffic congestion." Surya termed the inauguration a "day of victory" after six years of delays due to land acquisition, Covid, and trainset issues.
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