Bengaluru Metro breaks ridership record, busiest stations in core areas

Crowd at Majestic interchange Metro station. Photo credit: X.com/@KaanjiPinji

Bengaluru Metro, which commenced operations in 2011, recorded its highest-ever ridership of 8.65 lakh on August 6.

Of this, the Purple Line, from Challaghatta in West Bengaluru to Kadugodi (Whitefield) in East Bengaluru, saw a ridership of 4.06 lakh on August 6 (Tuesday). Green Line, from Nagasandra in the northwest to Silk Institute in the south, recorded 2.61 lakh, and the footfall at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station (Majestic interchange) was 1.59 lakh.

Currently, 73-km Metro network is operational, which includes the Purple Line (Challaghatta–Whitefield, 42.17 km, 37 stations) and the Green Line (Nagasandra–Silk Institute, 30 km, 29 stations).

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's Whitefield line chokes after return-to-office mandates, more trains only next year

Experts say main reasons for the spike in Metro ridership are the resumption of work from the office and rains. In Bengaluru, most techies now work from the office from Tuesdays to Thursdays, with some firms insisting on a five-day work week. With rains lashing Bengaluru, poor road infrastructure, waterlogging, and potholes slow down road traffic, forcing many to rely on the Metro.

AS Shankar, executive director, operations and maintenance, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), told Moneycontrol: "This shows that the Metro is becoming Bengaluru's lifeline. The reasons for the spike in ridership include more employees returning to offices, short-loop services between Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station and Majestic metro station during peak hours. Also, the Metro is a more reliable mode of transport during rains compared to road transport."

Bengaluru Metro's ridership

Bengaluru Metro's previous highest ridership was 8.25 lakh on August 15, 2022, due to a Congress rally at National College Grounds in Basavanagudi and the Lalbagh flower show when Namma Metro had only a 56 km network (Purple Line 25.6 km and Green Line 30 km).

The increase in Metro’s ridership continues despite the Shakti scheme, launched on June 11, 2023, which allows women domiciled in Karnataka to travel for free on non-AC buses operating within the state.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro sees ridership and revenue surge despite free bus travel for women

However, urban mobility expert Ashwin Mahesh said: "There is no significant rise in ridership corresponding to the expansion of the Metro's network. There is a stark difference between the projected ridership in the DPR and the reality."

The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs (2021-2022) also highlighted the poor ridership of the Bengaluru Metro. “The Bengaluru Metro had an Actual Average Daily Ridership (AADR) of only 1.4, 3.4, 4.5, 4.8, and 0.9 lakh in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, respectively, compared to the Average Daily Ridership required for break-even of 7.6, 10, 12.3, 13.1, and 18.5 lakhs, respectively, during the same period. Bengaluru Metro has consistently witnessed lower ridership than required for break-even,” it said.

Also read: How poor last-mile connectivity has hit public transport use

Most busiest stations in core city areas

Statistics sourced by Moneycontrol revealed that the busiest stations are in core city areas. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic), the interchange station of the Purple and Green Lines, is the busiest station in the city. Other busy stations include Benniganahalli, Indiranagar, MG Road, Nagasandra, KR Pura, Mantri Square Sampige Road, Cubbon Park, Banashankari, Trinity, Sir M Visvesvaraya Station, Central College, and Jayanagar.  A surprise addition to this list is Benniganahalli on the Purple Line, which commenced operations in October 2023. This could be due to people from areas along Hebbal and Hoskote using the station.

The stations with the lowest footfall are Pantharapalya-Nayandahalli, Peenya Industry, Hopefarm Channasandra, Thalaghattapura, Kengeri, Peenya, Jnanabharathi, etc. In areas like Peenya, where manufacturing industries are located, one reason for the low daily ridership is that blue-collar workers prefer the cheaper options of BMTC buses, walking or cycling, and shared auto rickshaws.

Also, read: Bengaluru's traffic conundrum: Metro rail to the outskirts, suburban rail confined to city limits, and tunnel vision

Meanwhile, Congress-led Karnataka government has been pushing for the extension of the Bengaluru Metro network to the outskirts and the construction of double-decker flyovers. However, experts say the Metro rail system is designed for core city areas, and suburban rail should be extended to the outskirts.

BMRCL has also roped in consultants for a feasibility study report for the extension of Metro rail corridors to the outskirts. The first package, with a length of 50 km, will have three corridors: Challaghatta - Bidadi, Silk Institute-Harohalli, and Bommasandra - Attibele. Another package will be a 60 km corridor: Kalene Agrahara (Gottigere) - Jigani- Anekal- Attibele- Sarjapur-Varthur -Kadugodi Tree Park.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's extension to outskirts, double-decker flyovers; contracts awarded for feasibility studies

However, the lines for which BMRCL called for a feasibility study are not part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), prepared by the state government in 2020, proposing to increase the Metro network in Bengaluru to 317 km. The corridors suggested in the CMP are: JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura stretch along ORR West, Hosahalli-Kadabagere line along Magadi Road, Whitefield – Domlur Line, Katamnallur Gate – Sarjapur Road – Hebbal, and Inner Ring Metro.

Also, read: Bengaluru: BMRCL to prepare feasibility report for 118 km extension to outskirts, floats tender

The Inner Ring Metro will have stations in places like Yeshwantpur, IISc, Mehkri Circle, Ulsoor, Indiranagar (interchange), Doopanahalli, Domlur, Ejipura, Dairy Circle, Nimhans, South End Circle, Lalbagh, KR Market, Attiguppe, Vijayanagar, and Kuvempu Road.

While the Union government is likely to approve two Phase 3 corridors (Magadi Road and ORR West), the BMRCL has recently submitted the DPR for Sarjapur Road to the Karnataka government for approval. However, there is no progress on other corridors. The Union government is unlikely to approve corridors that are not part of the CMP.

Also, read: Bengaluru traffic: IISc bats for Inner Ring underground Metro over DKS’ tunnel road plan

Metro trains overcrowded

Metro trains on Bengaluru’s two operational lines – Purple  and Green – are overcrowded due to delays in the delivery of coaches from the Chinese company CRRC. Experts said BMRCL should ideally have one train per km to maintain an optimal frequency of three to four minutes. Despite the Bengaluru Metro network expanding to a total length of 73 km, it has only 57 trains.

"The prototype DTG (Distance-To-Go) train for the Purple and Green Lines will be dispatched from China in August 2024 and is expected to arrive in Bengaluru by the end of September 2024. We plan to complete all tests by February 2025 using one DTG prototype train," a senior official told Moneycontrol.

He said the existing Purple and Green Lines will get 21 DTG trains next year. "Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) will supply DTG trains for existing lines only after the delivery of 14 communication-based train control (CBTC) trains for the Yellow Line (RV Road – Bommasandra in Electronics City)," he said.

The official added that TRSL will begin supplying DTG trains starting in June 2025 after the completion of the delivery of 14 CBTC trains for the Yellow Line. "We will complete all tests using the DTG prototype train. It is a challenging task since the Purple and Green Lines are already operational, so we will have limited four-hour slots during the night for testing the train," the official said.

Also, read: Titagarh to supply the first train for Bengaluru metro’s Electronics City corridor in August 2024