Bengaluru’s Namma Metro witnessed unprecedented passenger numbers on Monday with the opening of the Yellow Line, pushing daily ridership towards the 10-lakh mark. While the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) did not release complete figures, an insider revealed that at least 57,200 commuters used the Yellow Line between 6:30 am and 9 pm.
Major interchange stations, including Majestic and RV Road, saw heavy congestion. Peak-hour trains were so packed that security staff had to push passengers inside to close the doors. At Majestic, a new corridor linking the Purple Line’s platform 2 with the Green Line’s platforms 3 and 4 eased movement, but commuters heading to Whitefield via platform 1 faced crowd surges. RV Road station fared slightly better, with Yellow Line passengers from Bommasandra to Majestic able to switch easily across the platform, assisted by guards. However, those travelling in the opposite direction had to navigate across the station, causing confusion.
Bangalore South MP L. S. Tejasvi Surya, in a letter to BMRCL dated August 8, warned of possible overcrowding risks at RV Road due to the Yellow Line’s initial 25-minute train frequency compared to the Green and Purple Lines’ 4–8 minutes during peak hours. He urged immediate safety measures, including platform screen doors, barricades, improved signage, and more security personnel to manage walk-in and transfer crowds.
The massive turnout reflects both the growing demand for metro connectivity and the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to ensure safe, efficient travel.