Bengaluru Metro touches 9 lakh daily ridership mark

Bengaluru Metro's previous highest ridership was 8.65 lakh on August 6, 2024.

Bengaluru Metro, on August 14, achieved a record ridership, reaching a total of 917,365 passengers. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) reported that the Purple Line, which stretches from Challaghatta in West Bengaluru to Kadugodi (Whitefield) in the East, saw 443,000 riders. The Green Line, running from Nagasandra in the northwest to Silk Institute in the south, recorded 301,000 passengers, while Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic interchange) saw 172,000 footfalls.

Currently, the operational Metro network spans 73 kilometers, featuring the Purple Line (42.17 km, 37 stations) and the Green Line (30 km, 29 stations).

“Bengaluru Metro has emerged as the city’s lifeline because it is more reliable than road traffic. All terminal stations saw heavy crowding. In addition to the long weekend, many people visited the Independence Day flower show at Lalbagh,” said a senior BMRCL official.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro breaks ridership record, busiest stations in core areas

Bengaluru Metro's previous highest ridership was 8.65 lakh on August 6, 2024.

On August 13, Bengaluru traffic police issued an advisory to companies located along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), recommending work-from-home (WFH) arrangements on August 14, citing the long weekend and potential heavy rainfall.

“Traffic congestion was comparatively less on the Outer Ring Road due to the advisory, but there was heavy traffic on Tumakuru Road, Mysuru Road, and Hosur Road as many people in the city left on August 14 for the long weekend,” said a senior traffic police official.

Also, read: Bengaluru traffic police tells companies on ORR to implement work from home on August 14

However, the Bengaluru Metro’s projected ridership remains lower than expected. The Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs (2021-2022) highlighted the poor ridership. “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 lakh, respectively, during the same period.”

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

BMRCL records show the busiest stations are in core city areas. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station (Majestic), the interchange station for 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.

Stations with the lowest footfall include Pantharapalya-Nayandahalli, Peenya Industry, Hopefarm Channasandra, Thalaghattapura, Kengeri, Peenya, and Jnanabharathi. 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: How poor last-mile connectivity has hit public transport use