Bengaluru's Namma Metro ridership hits fresh daily record of 9.17 lakh

On August 14, Namma Metro in Bengaluru recorded its highest-ever daily ridership of 9,17,365 passengers, surpassing the previous record of 8.26 lakh set on August 7 this year. This milestone underscores the increasing popularity of the metro as a preferred mode of transport in the city.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) reported that 4,43,343 passengers travelled on the Purple Line, 3,01,775 on the Green Line, and 1,72,247 used the Majestic interchange station. These figures reflect the metro’s growing role in easing Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion.

Steady Increase in Ridership

Namma Metro’s daily ridership has shown a consistent upward trend, rising from 7.01 lakh in January to 7.45 lakh in June. The full operation of the Purple Line in October 2023 contributed significantly to this increase, and the numbers are expected to rise further with the upcoming extension of the Green Line.

Addressing the Challenges of Growing Ridership

The increased ridership has led to overcrowding, particularly during peak hours. BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao acknowledged the issue and mentioned that crowd management measures are being considered. These include optimizing train schedules, especially at the Majestic station, where train diversions and additional lifts have already been implemented. Plans are also underway to install platform screen doors at Majestic to prevent accidents.

Future Expansion and Challenges

The metro network is set to expand further with the opening of the 3.14-km Green Line extension from Nagasandra to Madavara, which is expected to increase ridership by an additional 30,000 passengers daily. However, despite the rising demand, BMRCL is unable to add more trains this year. The new trains for the Purple and Green Lines, supplied by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd and its Indian partner Titagarh Rail System Ltd, are expected to arrive only in 2025.

In the meantime, the 19.15-km Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra), set to open by December, will help cater to the city’s tech hubs in southern Bengaluru. This line will be serviced by 15 trains from CRRC-Titagarh, with the first prototype already received and the second expected in mid-September.