Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro Crosses 60,000 Daily Riders Within Weeks of Launch

Bengaluru’s Yellow Line of Namma Metro, which began operations on August 10, has quickly become a commuter favorite, averaging 60,000 daily riders despite limited services. The stretch runs from RV Road to Bommasandra and serves several busy residential and IT corridors.

According to officials at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), ridership has far exceeded expectations. “We thought numbers would taper off after the initial excitement and settle around 30,000, but commuters are sticking with it. People are willing to wait if it means avoiding road traffic,” a senior official told Deccan Herald.

Currently, only three trains run every 25 minutes, but demand is strong, particularly from tech professionals traveling to Electronic City, Bommasandra, and nearby hubs. Evening ridership is about 20% higher than morning numbers, with many preferring cabs to work but switching to the metro while returning home.

A fourth train is expected to be added in the coming weeks, which could push numbers even higher. Early reports already suggest a reduction in road congestion, particularly during peak hours along the corridor.

Commuters are noticing the difference. One resident said their commute from Bommasandra to MG Road has dropped from nearly 1 hour 45 minutes to around 1 hour 10 minutes, saving both time and ₹300–₹400 per trip.

Auto drivers too have observed the shift. “Earlier, tech employees would take autos after work, but now many are heading straight to the metro,” shared an auto driver in Banashankari.

The Yellow Line is not only reshaping travel patterns but also signaling how metro expansion could transform Bengaluru’s urban mobility in the coming years.