Bengaluru: Curious commuters rush to ride new metro

Bengaluru: Covering 19.15 km in just 33 minutes through some of Bengaluru’s most congested areas — that’s the promise Namma Metro’s Yellow Line delivered as it opened at 6.30 am on Monday.

. This reporter travelled by metro from Bommasandra to MG Road, covering 26 stations across the Yellow, Green, and Purple lines.

. While road travel took less time, the metro journey was delayed mainly by long interchanges — about 25 minutes at Bommasandra, seven at RV Road, and four at Majestic. These transfer gaps added roughly 10 extra minutes to the overall travel time compared to the road.

. Trains on the Yellow Line stopped at all 16 stations, with halt durations varying according to crowd levels. The shortest recorded stops were 12 seconds at Huskur Road and Beretena Agrahara, while the longest was 1 minute 10 seconds at BTM Layout, followed by Central Silk Board at 40 seconds. Travel time between stations ranged from 1 minute 12 seconds (Singasandra to Kudlu Gate) to 2 minutes 27 seconds (Central Silk Board to BTM Layout).

. The full run from Bommasandra to RV Road clocked in at 33 minutes from train entry to exit. The RV Road interchange was notably efficient — just two consecutive escalator rides — far simpler than the more complex Majestic transfer.

. However, Green Line trains at RV Road quickly overflow with passengers after Yellow Line arrivals, remaining crowded until Majestic.

. With only three trainsets available, frequency on the Yellow Line is as high as 25 minutes, leading to overcrowding at RV Road.

.First day first ride on the Namma Metro Yellow Line. For most commuters, the Yellow Line’s smooth ride, modern upgrades, and accessibility outweighed the initial hiccups of wait times and minimal seating. As services settle into routine, travel times and frequency are expected to improve, making the Yellow Line a key addition to Bengaluru’s metro network.

. The new stations stand out with upgraded facilities — elevators, escalators, ramps, bag scanners, and modern check-in/check-out gates. Compared to older lines, the Yellow Line features advanced technology, while trains come with extra grab handles for peak hours, additional charging points including USB ports, and animated route maps for easier navigation.

. The Yellow Line stations aren’t yet listed on the WhatsApp online ticketing portal, but updated scanners inside trains display the latest list.

. Many passengers turned up just to experience the new line. Among them was a Sarjapur resident.

. “Poor frequency is an issue, but I wanted to come and see for myself how this line is doing,” he said.

. Trains pause two minutes at Bommasandra for quick cleaning and five minutes at RV Road for a more thorough sweep, as many passengers brought in dirt on their footwear. The lack of seating at stations left elderly passengers perching on ledges while waiting.

. High fares

. A Hosur resident who commutes from Hebbagodi to Kudlu Gate and back for work daily found time savings significant (15 minutes in metro vs 45 minutes) but said the metro fare (Rs 40) was too high.

Bengaluru: Curious commuters rush to ride new metro

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