Bengaluru’s much-awaited Purple Line metro extension service begins

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: The long wait for the residents to travel by metro from Whitefield to the Bangalore Central Business District (CBD) and beyond has finally come to an end on Monday as train services begin on two new sections in the city.

The Purple Line metro extension service started between Krishnaraja Pura (KR Pura) to Byappanahalli (BYPL), built at a cost of Rs 363.48 crores. This line also connects key residential area of Whitefield with Bengaluru’s central business districts.

The Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura section is the missing link on the Purple Line and will play a crucial role in connecting the tech hub of Whitefield with the CBD and beyond.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) confirmed on Sunday that two new sections of the Purple Line will open on October 9.

Of the two sections, one connects Baiyappanahalli with KR Pura (2.1 km) and the other connects Kengeri with Challaghatta (2.05 km).

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar on Sunday informed about the two vital links of the East-West corridor of BMRCL and posted on X, “I had requested on the 5th of October, 2023 to the Government of India for the opening of two sections between KR Puram to Baiyappanahalli and from Kengeri to Challaghatta.”

“The GoI has responded to inform that the above two sections will be formally dedicated to the nation by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka within two weeks of time.

In order to provide immediate convenience to the commuters in these two vital missing links of the East-West corridor of BMRCL, we have decided to make the above two sections operational from the 9th of October, 2023,” he added.

The 2.1-km Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura and 2.05-km Kengeri-Challaghatta sections opened to the public from 5 am today. They are part of the Purple Line, which will stretch from Whitefield in the east to Challaghatta in the west and span 42.85 km.

“PM Narendra Modi Ji has instructed BMRCL to throw open services on the new stretches of the purple line (Challaghatta to Kengeri and Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield) on an immediate basis and without delaying the operations to hold any formal inauguration ceremony with a VIP presence,” a communique, posted by PC Mohan the MP from Bengaluru Central, on X said.

The Bengaluru Central MP further said that this is another demonstration of cutting down VIP culture in the country and placing public interest as the top priority.

“We must place on record PM Modi ji’s invaluable contribution to Bengaluru – the most among any other PMs,” he said.

On the occasion of throwing opening of the new stretch of Namma Metro’s purple line, the three MPs representing Bengaluru, DV Sadananda Gowda, PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya, have extended gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for his ‘invaluable contribution’ to the city’s development and constant support for Bengaluru.