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Confusion broke out on Monday after Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on social media that the Namma Metro’s long-awaited Pink Line, connecting Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, would be operational by May 2026.
His announcement, however, contradicted previous statements made by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which had maintained that the 21.3-km corridor would open in two stages with the full line expected only by the end of 2026.
In an X post, Mr. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, wrote: “Our commitment to better connectivity continues! Namma Metro Pink Line connecting Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara will be operational by May 2026. This 13.76-km stretch will ease traffic and strengthen north-south connectivity across Bengaluru.”
The announcement immediately drew attention and some scepticism from social media users who recalled that the BMRCL had repeatedly stated that the May 2026 deadline applied only to the elevated section of the line between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere on Bannerghatta Road. The remaining underground stretch, from Dairy Circle to Nagawara, was still under construction, with the BMRCL earlier setting December 2026 as the target for completion.
BMRCL clarifies
When contacted by The Hindu, a senior BMRCL official clarified the situation. “Only the elevated section around 7.5 km from Tavarekere to Kalena Agrahara is expected to be ready by May 2026. The 13.76-km underground stretch, running from Dairy Circle to Nagawara and passing through key hubs like M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, and Tannery Road, is scheduled for completion by December 2026,” the official said.
The official added that civil construction work for the elevated section had already been completed, while track laying and system integration were progressing across both sections. “Station work is still under way in the underground segment,” the official noted.
BEML’s train supply
Meanwhile, another senior BMRCL source cautioned that the operational timelines still hinge on train supply schedules. “These are optimistic estimates. It all depends on BEML delivering the train sets on time. As per the contract, the BEML was expected to supply the trains by June 2025, but the schedule has been delayed. We now expect delivery in 2026 so that trial runs, inspections, and CMRS approvals can be completed as planned,” official said.
In August 2023, the Bengaluru-based public sector unit BEML Ltd. secured a contract to manufacture and maintain 318 metro coaches (53 trainsets) over 15 years. This included 96 coaches designated for the Pink Line and 222 coaches for the Blue Line, which covers Phase 2A and 2B extensions.
Like other metro corridors, the Pink Line project has faced multiple delays since its inception. Initially proposed to be operational by 2020, the deadline was first extended to December 2025.
The Pink Line, forming a key part of Namma Metro Phase 2, will stretch 21.3 km from Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north. Of this, 13.8 km comprises underground tunnels, while 7.5 km is an elevated viaduct.
The line is expected to greatly improve north–south connectivity, linking dense residential areas and major commercial zones with the city centre. Tendering for the elevated section began as early as 2017, but progress was slow due to land acquisition hurdles, utility shifting, and technical complexities in tunnelling beneath heavily built-up areas. The underground section of Bengaluru’s longest continuous metro tunnel involves challenging construction through some of the city’s most congested localities.
Once operational, the Pink Line will connect several key transit nodes, including M.G. Road, Shivajinagar, and Cantonment, before terminating at Nagawara, where it will link to the upcoming airport line under Phase 2B.
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