Entire Bangalore Metro Purple Line Opens: Challaghatta – Whitefield
What a historic day. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) this morning opened 2 small but key sections of the 42.17 km Purple Line to make it continuously operational between Challaghata Station – Whitefield (Kadugodi) Station.
These 2 sections of the 73.92 km Bangalore Metro Phase 2 projects include the much awaited 2.2 km “missing” link connecting Baiyyappanahalli – Benniganahalli – KR Pura and the 2.1 km western extension between Kengeri – Challaghatta.
Both sections with 1 new station (Benniganahalli & Challaghatta) each underwent safety inspections in September. End to end tickets (fare) will cost Rs. 57.
The announcement to open these sections, without any formal inauguration ceremony, was made on late Sunday evening.
As I’ve shared in the past, BMRCL continues to wait for deliveries to begin on 21 new trains from CRRC – Titagarh for the green & purple lines, due to which train frequency will remain awfully low on either end for the next 12-24 months.
Here’s BMRCL’s game plan when it comes to headways:
- Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Patandur Agrahara: 10 minutes
- Patandur Agrahara – Mysore Road: 5 minutes
- Majestic – MG Road: 3 minutes (morning hours)
- Mysore Road – Challaghatta: 10 minutes
Here are some snaps of Benniganahalli Station posted by @Suchithkidiyoor on X:
With this development, Bangalore Metro’s Purple Line has become 42.17 km long connecting Challaghatta – Whitefield (Kadugodi). In Phase 2, BMRCL has more than doubled the line’s length from Phase 1‘s 18.10 km where it connected Mysore Road – Baiyappanahalli.
On a side note, in case you missed it, bidding is currently underway for a small 588m extension from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Belatur Colony on Whitefield-Hoskote Road.
The entire network has become 72.17 km large with 2 lines and I’m curious to see ridership figures at the end of the day. I’ve updated all maps and information on Bangalore Metro’s overview and Phase 2 pages.
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– TMRG
Why haven’t they provided any vehicle parking near Whitefield metro?
I completely agree. Where is the same parking facility that Baiyappanahalli has? People from Hokote and other areas can also benefit from the metro, thereby increasing the metro profits. There has to be more feeder buses now from these areas to Whitefield metro. And a skywalk is a must. Lot of vehicular movements due to bus stand and oncoming traffic from hoskote
Hi, finally the wait is over, but without parking facility at Whitefield Metro Station. These Cabs/Auto Rickshaw guys are charging exorbitant amount to/from Metro Station to nearby locations. I am staying in Sandeep Vihar and have to pay ₹100 for a distance of about 3 km. Concerned authorities must plan Parking facility at Whitefield Metro Station.
Hi, finally the wait is over, but without parking facility at Whitefield Metro Station. These Cabs/Auto Rickshaw guys are charging exorbitant amount to/from Metro Station to nearby locations. I am staying in Sandeep Vihar and have to pay ₹100 for a distance of about 3 km. Concerned authorities must plan Parking facility at Whitefield Metro Station.
Reply
There should be very big and comfortable parking place facilities to park cars, two wheelers at important Metro stations particularly at starting and ending point along with feeder bus facilities to all residential areas.
Great news. Indeed, there is no need for politicians to inaugurate every civic amenity.
Why do you expect parking, in our country work is never complete.
The bearded fella (the obnoxious inauguration man) has moved his bureaucrat to publish a notification on a Sunday evening to commence operations the next day morning. good!
He even re-twitted his minion (Hardeep, ex-IFS).
https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1711347578963714455
Hope he displays similar strength of character to commence Navi Mumbai Metro..
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/three-major-projects-in-navi-mumbai-await-vvip-inauguration-despite-being-ready-for-months-101696533026157.html
No, he won’t. He will take a flight, after some days, to Mumbai to throw open the line…
https://www.mumbailive.com/en/politics/pm-narendra-modi-will-once-again-inaugurate-navi-mumbai-metro-during-his-mumbai-tour-81155
…till then, wait!!
Happy that Metro is extending upto Challagatta. Since the station at Challaghatta is located in such a way only to one side, crossing from opposite side is very difficult since the commuters have to cross the busy national highway. What steps do Metro proposes to take .
This crossing could be deadly as we have to cross highway to reach metro station with no zebra parking no traffic control
I would say BMRCL to work with B-TRAC to construct a Zebra Xing with Traffic Signals, connecting the entrance gate of the metro station with the opposite road..
Disappointed to see that train frequency will remain low until new trains arrive
Like BMRCL DID NOT KNOW THE LINES OR STATIONS WOULD BE READY???
NO PLANNING AHEAD?
CITIZENS BE DAMNED AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO HOLD ANYONE RESPONSIBLE?
SSSSSAAAAAAAAAADDDDDD
There should be Trains between MG road and Majestic every 3 minutes in the 3vening from 6 PM to 8 PM as in the morning peak hour, people are struggling to catch train from cubbon park, Vidansouda etc ..
The Kadugodi Metro Station only operates after 7 am. This is very inconvenient for college goers and others. Additionally, hope all metro lines are being regularly inspected to ensure safety of our commuters. Heard that a big metal piece is broken from the Indiranagar Metro line. This is super scary.
Not sure who will benefit from this metro line except making headlines because there is no facility for parking.
People like me don’t want to travel by auto even for 1 km… I would rather take my 2 wheeler
Parking ???? This was never in the plan looks like! Crazy planning
Where are we supposed to park our vehicles?
There were lots of talks about extension of Challaghatta to Bidadi. It seems to have died its natural death. Any latest update regarding this? Expresss way bypasses Bidadi, hence people had to depend on local buses via service road, which off late gets jammed due to narrow lanes. People of Bidadi lost a lot of facilities, hence development is at snail pace. Mysore Road is the only highway which lost, compared to roads of Tumkur, Hosur, Hoskote, Bannerghatta, Kanakapura… hope local politicians do something for people around this area. Just to inform Bidad Industrial Area is one of top most revenue yielding area with large employee base.
This is fantastic news for commuters in Bangalore! The Purple Line opening will undoubtedly ease traffic and make traveling to Whitefield much more convenient. Can’t wait to experience the new line! Great job on the detailed breakdown!