Bengaluru metro: Operations on extended Purple Line likely to begin by August

Earlier, expressing confidence on the beginning of the much-delayed operations on the stretch, BMRCL Managing director Anjum Parwez said, “We can begin commercial operations on this stretch by August after obtaining safety clearance from CMRS.”

With six stations — Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Jnanabharathi, Pattengere, Kengeri Bus Terminal, and Kengeri — on the extended Purple line, the 7.53-kilometre long extended route is expected to benefit 75,000 passengers daily. Operations on this stretch were initially scheduled to be in 2020 and then pushed to June as officials cited Covid second wave and unavailability of workers due to the pandemic among reasons for the delay.

Travel time between Mysuru Road and Kengeri is expected to be around 15 minutes in the new stretch. A passenger will have to pay Rs 56 to travel between Baiyappanahalli and Kengeri –– the two stations located at different ends of the Purple Line. The farthest one could travel in the metro along the new stretch will be between Kengeri and Silk Institute (Green Line) stations, costing Rs 60.