BENGALURU: The much-awaited Namma Metro Yellow Line became a reality on Monday. It was opened to the public following its inauguration by the Prime Minister after an eight-year wait. The key link aims to ease traffic congestion and boost connectivity, particularly for commuters in the city’s bustling IT corridors.
RV Road Metro Station now becomes the city’s second interchange station after Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station, allowing passengers to switch between the Green and Yellow Lines.
"With our child, travelling to Central Silk Board is much easier on the metro," said Shekhar, who was accompanied by his wife and child to take a ride in the new metro line. "The fare is far less compared to the Rs 300 we pay for an auto, and we don’t mind waiting 25 minutes for the train, it’s easier and far more comfortable."
"Normally, I’d take a bus and then an auto to reach Chickpete from Bommasandra, and it would take more than two hours," said another passenger. "Now, with the metro, I can get there in under an hour, it’s a game-changer for connectivity."
The end-to-end journey takes 31 minutes, with trains operating every 25 minutes initially. Stations witnessed heavy footfall on the first day of operations with IT employees welcoming the new connection as a respite from the infamous Central Silk Board traffic.
According to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), from Monday to Saturday, services will start at 6.30 am from both terminals. The last train from Bommasandra will leave at 10.42 pm, while the final service from RV Road will depart at 11.55 pm. On Sundays, services will begin at 7.00 am.
The fare ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 60. Tickets will be available via tokens, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) cards, BMRCL smart cards, and QR codes, all compatible with the existing metro network.
Part of Metro Phase-2, the 19.15-km stretch, built at a cost of Rs 7,160 crore, comprises 16 stations and expands Bengaluru’s operational metro network to 96 km.