After festive break, Bengaluru metro ridership pushed to 10.09 lakh

Bengaluru: Namma Metro trains ferried more than a million passengers on Monday, as a large number of people returned to the city after a five-day festival break. 

Total boardings across the metro network stood at 10,09,970. Ridership was 4,32,824 on the Purple Line, 2,82,099 on the Green Line, 60,811 on the Yellow Line, and 2,34,236 at interchange stations (Majestic and RV Road). 

For comparison, metro trains had ferried 9.74 lakh passengers on September 29 and 10.01 lakh on September 22. 

Metro stations along the city's entry points — Tumakuru Road, Mysuru Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road and Old Madras Road — witnessed heavy rush, with passenger lines spilling onto the streets. BMRCL authorities had to temporarily shut entrances at some metro stations to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. 

One metro staff member said they did not expect so many people. 

Ridership has steadily increased since the Yellow Line opened on August 11. 

In August, average daily ridership stood at 8,46,325 as a record 2,62,36,084 passengers travelled by the metro during the month. 

According to a senior BMRCL official, boardings hover around one million on weekdays. Monday's ridership was "more or less" in line, he added. 

The all-time ridership of 10,82,394 was recorded on August 14.