After 5-year delay, Bengaluru Metro’s 3-km Green line set to open tomorrow
Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar boarded a Metro at Yeshwanthpur and conducted an inspection tour on the Nagasandra-Madavara route.
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The new stretch, consisting of three stations — Manjunathanagar, Chikkabidarakallu, and Madavara (BIEC) — is expected to serve approximately 44,000 passengers daily. (File)The much-anticipated 3.14-kilometre stretch of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Green Line from Nagasandra to Madavara that provides access to Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) will be opened for commercial operations on Thursday, November 7. The stretch is expected to enhance the connectivity and alleviate traffic congestion along Tumkur Road. This extension, completed under Phase-2 of the Metro project, comes after a prolonged approval process.
The new stretch, consisting of three stations — Manjunathanagar, Chikkabidarakallu, and Madavara (BIEC) — is expected to serve approximately 44,000 passengers daily.
Maheshwara Rao, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) managing director, confirmed to The Indian Express about the commissioning of the line.
According to BMRCL, the first train will leave Madavara at 5 am and the last train at 11 pm with effect from November 7. The headway between Madavara and Nagasandra section will be 10 minutes and on the other sections of Green Line there are no changes to train operations and will run as per schedule. The minimum fare is Rs 10 and the maximum fare is Rs 60.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, on Wednesday, conducted an inspection tour of the newly-extended line, boarding a Metro at Yeshwanthpur and assessing the facilities on the Nagasandra-Madavara route.
Although the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) granted operational clearance over a month ago, it took additional time for the Central Government to issue the final go-ahead.
Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya had repeatedly urged Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar to expedite the opening of the stretch, citing mounting commuter frustration due to severe congestion on Tumkur Road.
A 3-kilometre stretch, years in the making
Construction of the elevated line began in 2017 with a projected completion timeline of 27 months. However, the project faced multiple delays, finally concluding seven years later at a cost of Rs 1,168 crore, which includes Rs 152 crore allocated for land acquisition. The contract to build the stations was awarded to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd in February 2017, and civil work commenced in June of that year.
This extension marks the final addition to Phase-1 under the broader Phase-2 development plan. Running parallel to the National Highway, the elevated line crosses the NICE Road at two points and provides direct metro access to key destinations, including the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), an important venue for national and international events, as well as large residential areas and surrounding towns.
Enhanced commuter facilities and infrastructure
Each station on the new stretch has been equipped with pedestrian access facilities to improve last-mile connectivity. Manjunathanagar station has a Foot over Bridge (FoB) for road-crossing pedestrians, while Chikkabidarakallu and Madavara stations feature underpasses for safe crossing of the national highway.
Once the line is operational, Bengaluru’s Metro network will expand to 76.95 kilometres with 69 stations. The North-South Green Line will stretch upto 33.46 kilometres with 31 stations, while the East-West Purple Line will span 43.49 kilometres with 38 stations. This expansion is expected to reduce travel time by approximately 30 per cent.
The extended Metro line to BIEC is expected to provide major relief for those attending conferences and exhibitions at the venue, as well as residents of nearby neighbourhoods who will now have direct access to the Metro network.
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