BENGALURU: In a major safety and technology upgrade for the city’s mass transit system, Bengaluru’s under-construction Namma Metro Pink Line is set to feature platform screen doors (PSDs) for the first time. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has already installed a full-scale mockup at MG Road station, three officials familiar with the development confirmed.

Pink Line gears up for advanced safety systems

With civil work nearing completion on the 21.26-km Kalena Agrahara–Nagawara Pink Line corridor, BMRCL has shifted focus to track-laying and systems installation. This includes deploying PSDs at all 12 underground stations on the line, marking Bengaluru’s entry into a safety standard already present in metros in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Platform screen doors are synchronised with train operations, opening only when the train aligns perfectly with the platform. They are designed to enhance passenger safety by preventing falls or intentional entry onto tracks — incidents that have occurred in Bengaluru in recent years.

In underground sections, PSDs also improve climate control by reducing air exchange between stations and tunnels, thereby cutting energy consumption.

PSD mockup installed at MG Road

The mockup installed at MG Road station has been supplied by subcontractor Panasonic from China. A senior BMRCL official said the model has been set up exclusively for experimental and testing purposes.

“Once testing and authorisation are completed, we will start installing PSDs at all 12 underground stations. The installation will take about six months,” the official said.

Each PSD will stand approximately 2.15 metres high, while platform screen gates (PSGs) will be about 1.4 metres tall, spanning the entire 128-metre length of a six-coach platform. The installation cost per station is estimated at around ₹9 crore.

CBTC signalling contract and global partnerships

In June 2024, French company Alstom Transport secured a €96.2 million contract to design, manufacture, supply, install, test and commission a fully automated Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system for both the Pink and Blue lines, covering 80.39 km.

The contract includes supply and installation of PSDs for all 12 underground stations on the Pink Line, as well as the Blue Line’s airport terminal station. Additionally, a PSG will be installed at Airport City’s at-grade station. The project is being funded through assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

More stations to receive PSDs

BMRCL also plans to expand PSD deployment beyond the Pink Line. Bengaluru’s Purple Line will get PSDs at the Majestic interchange station and Central College station — two of the busiest hubs in the network.
Konappana Agrahara station, funded by the Infosys Foundation, will also be equipped with PSGs to enhance passenger safety.

Pink Line progress and expected opening timeline

Systems work on the Pink Line — which includes electrical, mechanical and electronic installations — is expected to take about six more months, as each subsystem requires detailed integration and testing before commissioning.

The corridor will open in two phases:

  • Phase 1: The 7.5-km Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere stretch is expected to be operational by May 2026.
  • Phase 2: The 13.76-km Dairy Circle–Nagawara section is scheduled to open by December 2026.

Once operational, the Pink Line is expected to significantly improve east-west connectivity through key employment and educational clusters while introducing Bengaluru to a higher level of metro safety and automation.