Bengaluru Metro plans 4-minute frequency across all corridors in two years

In March 2025, BEML received another order worth Rs 405 crore from BMRCL to supply seven additional metro trains (42 cars) for the Pink Line.

“Earlier, we issued a variation order to BEML for seven trains to achieve a 4-minute headway on Pink Line. We have planned the procurement of trains in such a way that, in the next two years, Purple, Green, Yellow and Pink Lines will all operate at a 4-minute frequency, ensuring there is no major crowding at interchange stations such as RV Road and Jayadeva,” an official told Moneycontrol.

“Across all stations and phases, the best-case scenario is a headway of four to six minutes, which will significantly help passengers," BMRCL MD J Ravishankar had said.

A senior official told Moneycontrol: "Currently, Purple, Green and Yellow Lines operate morning peak headways of 3.3 minutes, 5 minutes and 15 minutes respectively. Evening peak headways stand at 5 minutes, 5 minutes and 15 minutes. For Purple and Green Lines, 3.3-minute and 5-minute frequencies apply only to the busiest sections where short-loop services operate during peak hours, not to the entire corridor."

Purple Line may get a new train in April 2026

BMRCL is also planning to induct China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC)-made trains on Purple (Challaghatta-Whitefield) and Green (Madavara-Silk Institute) Lines from next year. While the prototype train manufactured by CRRC arrived in Bengaluru in January 2025 for deployment on the Purple Line, its induction has been delayed, and BMRCL officials said it will now be inducted in April 2026.

Also, read: Prototype train for Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line shipped from China's CRRC

“We are arranging oscillation trials and hope to get approval from all statutory authorities by March 2026. Testing on Purple Line is possible only for four hours a day and for four-five days a week during non-revenue hours. Some tests must be carried out across the entire stretch. All major tests have been completed. We applied for a waiver of oscillation trials from Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), but this was not agreed to. So the statutory approval process will take three to four months,” an official told Moneycontrol.

“We need approvals from RDSO, Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), and Railway Board before inducting the train on the Purple Line,” the official added.

In December 2019, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co. won the contract to supply 216 coaches within 173 weeks. Of these, 126 coaches (21 six-coach trains) are meant for Purple and Green Lines, and 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) for Yellow Line. However, it missed multiple deadlines following the India-China standoff.

Also, read: MC Explains: Overcrowded Bengaluru Metro coaches: Fallout of Indo-China conflict

Metro experts say Bengaluru Metro should ideally deploy at least one train per kilometre to maintain an optimal frequency of three to four minutes. Despite its network expanding to 96 km, Bengaluru Metro now has only 62 trains, with an average daily ridership of 10 lakh.

In August 2023, BEML announced that it had received a rolling-stock order worth Rs 3,177 crore to supply 318 coaches to BMRCL. The allocation of coaches is as follows: 96 coaches for Pink Line (21.3 km Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara), 126 coaches for Phase 2B (Blue Line: 37 km KR Pura-Kempegowda International Airport), 96 coaches for Blue Line (18.2 km Central Silk Board-KR Pura). BEML is likely to provide the prototype train for the Pink Line between December 2025 and January 2026.

According to BMRCL, Pink Line's 7.5-km elevated section from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere will open by May-June 2026, while 13.7-km underground section from Dairy Circle to Nagawara is expected to be ready only by December 2026. By the end of 2027, entire Blue Line (Central Silk Board-KR Pura-Kempegowda International Airport) is expected to be completed.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro Phase 2 deadline pushed to Sept 2026; Pink Line to open in two phases