The notorious Silk Board traffic memes and jokes can finally be retired - one hopes. After what seemed like an eternal wait, Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra), which connects Electronics City, is finally here.
Work began in 2017 and was supposed to be completed by December 2021, but the project missed a series of deadlines before it was finally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10. Commercial operations began on August 11 with three trains running at a frequency of 25 minutes.
Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's Yellow Line: 19-km took 8 years to complete; cost escalated to around Rs 400 crore per km
Moneycontrol boarded the first train from RV Road at 6:30am, along with many enthusiastic citizens whose long wait had finally ended. The poor frequency, owing to a shortage of trains, did little to dampen spirits - many woke up early to be part of this new chapter in Bengaluru’s public transport story.
6:15 am: RV Road station, the second interchange station (Yellow and Green Lines) in the city after Kempegowda Majestic (Purple and Green Lines), is nestled amid the tree-lined Lakshman Rau Boulevard in Jayanagar. Among those waiting on Platform 3 for the first train to Bommasandra was Abdul Aziz, a Class 4 student.
“I took my daughter when the Green Line was inaugurated in 2017, and this time I brought my son so he can experience travelling in the first train. He is very excited," said his father, Ameen-E-Mudassar. Venkatesh K, a senior citizen, echoed: “We’ve been waiting for this day. There were delays, but it's finally here.”
6:30 am: As the first train departed, passengers clicked selfies, some dressed in yellow to match the occasion. The train curved over the Green Line, offering sweeping views. The familiar voice of Aparna Vastarey, a well-known Kannada actress, TV presenter, and the voice behind Namma Metro’s announcements, echoed through the speakers. Vastarey passed away last year. BMRCL had pre-recorded her announcements for Yellow Line.
6:32 am: Ragigudda station still wears some of its decor from the inauguration celebration. What’s striking is the dynamic station display on trains, in English and Kannada, showing both the current and upcoming stations - a feature missing on the Purple and Green Line trains. Yellow Line trains are manufactured by Titagarh Rail Systems (TRSL) and China's CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, while Purple and Green Line trains are built by BEML.
6:35 am: As the train passed Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, greenery slowly gave way to a concrete landscape. We were on Bengaluru’s first double-decker flyover, a 3.3Km stretch from Ragigudda to Central Silk Board. The lower deck, 8 metres above ground, carries road traffic, while the upper deck, 16 metres high, carries the Metro. Jayadeva will also serve as an interchange station for the upcoming Pink Line.
6:37 am: At BTM Layout station, a few passengers noted jerks and door alignment issues - a problem the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) had also flagged. The report said trains often require door override controls for boarding and de-boarding due to a mismatch between the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) used in the Signalling & Train Control (S&TC) system design and the actual site layout.
6:40 am: At Central Silk Board station, a huge rush of fresh passengers arrived. It is set to become an interchange station when the Blue Line opens.
6:42 am: The train went past Bommanahalli and ran parallel to the 9.9 Km Electronics City Expressway. “This line will save a huge amount of time during peak hours. It takes more than an hour to travel between RV Road and Bommasandra due to snarls at Central Silk Board and BTM Layout,” a passenger said.
Also, read: Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line: 19-km RV Road–Bommasandra ride likely to cost Rs 60
6:44 am: Train reached Hongasandra station. TP Lokesh of Karnataka Railway Vedike, a regular at inaugurals, said: “Rs 60 is too steep for a 19 km ride. BMTC charges Rs 25-30. Also, a 25-minute frequency is too low. If they are falling short of trains, they could have run only between major stations as planned earlier.”
6:46 am: Kudlu Gate, with a near-full train, was decked in yellow alongside Purple and Green Line colours. A passenger asked if it was a driverless train, only to learn that BMRCL plans to switch to fully automated operations after six months.
Also, read: Bengaluru Metro’s Yellow Line set for August 10 launch; fully automated driverless operations to begin later
6:48 am: Singasandra station arrived, overlooking a lake. Once the Blue and Pink Lines open, it may be a good idea for inter-city buses to terminate at Bommasandra instead of entering the city.
6:50 am: The train reached Hosa Road station, an area dotted with tech companies, and NICE Road came into view after the Beratena Agrahara station. A middle-aged man, rushing to board, missed the train by a whisker. He has to wait 25 minutes for the next one.
6:53 am: At Electronics City station, which serves several tech firms and colleges, a large crowd disembarked. A college student pointed out the presence of USB charging ports and three-pin sockets in each coach, noting that they are helpful for many passengers.
Also, read: Bengaluru: Metro Plaza at Infosys Electronics City campus to provide direct station access for employees
6:56 am: Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara station has its state-of-the-art design, aesthetically pleasing façade, and direct campus access through an access control system for Infosys employees via ID card. Built with a Rs 100-crore Infosys Foundation contribution, the station has 227,000 sq m of space, including 3,000 sq ft for artisan exhibitions. Originally planned for half-height platform screen gates, they were absent at launch.
Also, read: Infosys Foundation-funded metro station in Bengaluru's tech hub set to be a model facility
6:57 am: The crowd thins at Huskuru Road station.
6:59 am: Biocon Hebbagodi station part-funded by Biocon Foundation, which pledged Rs 65 crore, arrives. Biocon founder and executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has spoken of having an “Art & Science” theme in mind for it.
7:02 am: The train reaches Delta Electronics Bommasandra, the terminal station funded by Delta Electronics (Rs 65 crore). It is close to the Bommasandra industrial area, Narayana Hrudayalaya, and HCL Technologies.
Later in the morning at the RV Road station, the platform was packed with passengers heading towards Bommasandra. Station staff struggled to manage the crowds in the small interchange station, especially with low train frequency.
One thing is clear: Bengalureans, long plagued by traffic snarls, are ready to embrace public transport if given reliable, frequent, and affordable options. However, fare hikes of up to 71 percent, poor last-mile connectivity, and low service frequency could be deterrents. Still, the pride and excitement are palpable - like a student savouring the whiff of new books ahead of a fresh academic year. Yellow Line may have come late, but it is the newest jewel in the city’s transit crown.
Also, read: PM Modi inaugurates Yellow Line; Bengaluru Metro’s network expands to 96 km
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