Citizens protest against delay in opening of Yellow Line of Namma Metro in Bengaluru

In a show of mounting frustration over repeated delays, hundreds of commuters gathered outside Lalbagh Main Gate on July 5 morning demanding the immediate opening of the Yellow Line of Namma Metro in Bengaluru. The protest, led by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, was marked by citizen anger and a call for accountability from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

The Yellow Line — a critical 19-km corridor connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra via key bottlenecks like Silk Board — was originally scheduled to open in 2021. However, the launch has been pushed back multiple times, most recently missing a June 2025 deadline. Commuters say the delays are not just administrative lapses, but daily disruptions to their lives.

“This protest is about accountability,” said Manjunath, a civil engineer and BTM Layout resident who travels daily to Bommasandra. “Every day, I spend at least an hour crossing Silk Board. Yesterday night at 12 a.m., I was stuck there again. This line was supposed to be ready three years ago. It’s our tax money. Why is there no urgency?”

Several residents spoke of potential savings in both time and cost once the line opens. With daily commutes currently stretching to over 90 minutes through traffic-heavy corridors, the metro is expected to cut that by half for many.

The Yellow Line also connects major employment zones, and residents argue it could ease congestion on one of the city’s worst stretches.

Sunil B., a resident of Kudlu Gate who commutes to Manyata Tech Park, shared similar frustrations. “Every month there’s a new promise — June, then December, then March. I take a bus now that takes two hours. If the Yellow Line opens, I’ll save at least an hour every day. It’s about time and mental health too,” he said, adding that even his elderly parents are impacted due to the lack of convenient transit.

A petition, addressing five issues - the commissioning of yellow line, non-disclosure of Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report, Delay in Phase 3 (of Namma Metro) implementation, Hebbal - Sarjapur Metro and Tunnel Road conflict and ignoring Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) 2020 metro policies - were submitted to M. Maheshwar Rao, managing director of BMRCL by Mr. Surya.

“We have been patient long enough. Citizens deserve better. If BMRCL cannot commit, we will intensify protests across all metro stations,” Mr. Surya told the protesters.

Citizens demanded that the line should be opened by August 15 at the latest. Prakash Mandoth, President of the Bangalore Metro and Suburban Rail Passenger Association, who joined the protest said, “We do not want blame games. We want deadlines to be respected. August 15 is a realistic opening target.

Mr. Rao also arrived at the protest spot and received the petition. Later, while speaking to media persons, he said that the teething troubles that the contracted agencies had over the years have all been dissolved. “We will approach the competent authority soon and we will do our best to open the line as fast as possible,” he said.