Bengaluru’s Namma Metro network is on the verge of crossing 100 km, but commuters will have to wait a little longer to know when the elevated Pink Line will open to the public.
The 7.5 km stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere received safety clearance on Wednesday, bringing the long-awaited corridor closer to becoming operational.
The clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (Southern Circle) is a major step towards opening the line. However, the inauguration date remains uncertain, with state government leaders offering different timelines for the launch.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Bengaluru on November 15 and was likely to inaugurate the metro line. Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda also indicated that the stretch could open by mid November, adding that he would meet Union ministers in early November to seek an early launch.
However, Gowda’s statement later in the day made it clear that the state government was still waiting for the Centre to confirm the date. In a post on X, he said the line was ready for public service and that the government had already written to the Centre requesting an inauguration date.
According to reports, PM Modi is expected to visit Bengaluru on November 15 and may inaugurate the elevated Pink Line. However, the inauguration date has not been officially confirmed, with the state government awaiting a date from the Centre.
Once services begin, the elevated corridor will connect parts of Bannerghatta Road to the metro network through six stations: Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIMB, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital and Tavarekere.
The new stretch will take Bengaluru’s metro network to 103.6 km, putting the city ahead of Mumbai to become the second longest metro network in India. For commuters along Bannerghatta Road, however, the immediate question remains when they can finally start using the new line.