Bengaluru Metro Pink Line Set to Miss September Deadline as Key Approvals Remain Pending

The much-awaited elevated 7.5-km section of the Namma Metro Pink Line in Bengaluru is likely to miss its September opening target, with key regulatory approvals still awaited, according to sources in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).

BMRCL submitted an application for rolling stock sanction to the Railway Board on September 7. The sanction, which is yet to be received, is one of the mandatory steps that must be completed before the corridor can be inspected and cleared for commercial operations.

Although the State government remains hopeful of launching the corridor this month, passenger services can begin only after statutory procedures are completed. These include the rolling stock approval from the Railway Board and the final safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).

According to sources, once the rolling stock sanction is received, BMRCL will have to submit the Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) signalling report to the CMRS. The safety commissioner will then examine the documents and decide on a date for inspecting the corridor. After the inspection, the CMRS clearance is expected to take another one to two weeks. The corridor would then have to be formally inaugurated before passenger services commence.

A senior BMRCL official said the corporation had not committed to a September opening without the necessary approvals. “We said that the elevated section of the Pink Line is expected to be inaugurated in September, subject to the completion of all statutory approvals and clearances,” the official said.

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda inspected the corridor on September 2 and said the civil and elevated works were ready. He had earlier indicated that the elevated section could be inaugurated and opened to commuters once the Centre provided the necessary approvals. “We are ready. As soon as the date is given by the Government of India, this stretch will be inaugurated and opened to people for commuting,” Mr. Gowda had said.

The expected opening date has changed several times. After taking charge of the portfolio, the Minister had initially announced that the elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere would become operational by August 15. He had also said that the remaining underground section between Tavarekere and Nagawara was expected to be completed by March 2027.

The Pink Line is a 21.3-km corridor connecting Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru with Nagawara in the north. Of the total length, around 13.8 km is underground, while 7.5 km is elevated.

The underground section will pass through several important areas, including Dairy Circle, M.G. Road, Shivajinagar and Tannery Road, providing a crucial north-south connection through the central parts of the city.

The project has faced repeated delays and missed several earlier deadlines. Commuters who have been waiting for the corridor to become operational have expressed disappointment over the shifting timelines. For now, no confirmed date has been announced for the launch of the elevated section, and services will begin only after the pending approvals and safety clearances are in place.