BENGALURU: The launch of the Yellow Line Metro in Bengaluru has delivered a major relief to commuters, with traffic congestion along the stretch dropping by nearly 37%, according to an analysis by the Bengaluru Traffic Police.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya praised the impact, calling it a clear demonstration of how mass public transport can transform urban mobility. “A massive 37% drop in congestion after the launch of the Yellow Line Metro showcases yet again how mass public transport is the most effective solution for easing traffic congestion in Bengaluru,” Surya wrote on X. He added that this improvement came with just four trains running at 19-minute frequency, suggesting that greater benefits would follow with higher frequency and the addition of upcoming Pink and Blue lines.
Metro Expansion
The 19-km Yellow Line, stretching from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Bommasandra with 16 stations, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10. Built at a cost of around ₹7,160 crore, it has extended Bengaluru’s operational metro network to over 96 km.
The new line has particularly eased traffic at high-density corridors such as Hosur Road, Silk Board Junction, BTM Circle, Hosa Road, and Electronics City, which serve as gateways for thousands of IT employees traveling between central Bengaluru and southern corporate hubs.
Traffic Impact Data
According to the ASTraM (Actionable Intelligence for Sustainable Traffic Management) study comparing data from 11–31 August, the Yellow Line’s effect has been significant:
- Weekday peak hours: congestion reduced by 38% in mornings and 37% in evenings.
- Non-peak hours: a 17% reduction observed.
- Weekends: congestion dropped by 69% in morning peak hours and 39% in evening peak hours, with non-peak congestion falling by 58%.
However, the study also noted some rise in non-peak congestion on Mondays (25%) and Wednesdays (21%), even though overall traffic levels are substantially lower than before the Yellow Line opened.
Call for More Public Transport
Surya urged the state government to focus on mass transit over vanity projects, saying that expanding metro networks remains the most effective way to solve Bengaluru’s traffic crisis. With more metro lines scheduled to come online, experts believe the city could see a long-term structural shift in commuting patterns.
