News Brief
Bengaluru: Namma Metro’s Pink Line Advances As BMRCL Begins Third Rail Testing, Full Operation Now Slated For 2026
A Namma Metro train built by BEML in Bengaluru. (Photo credit: Manjunath Kiran/AFP/GettyImages)
The long-awaited Pink Line of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has crossed a crucial milestone, with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) commencing “third rail” testing on the elevated stretch between Jayadeva and Tavarekere stations, The Hindu reported.
This pivotal electrification step signals the start of a series of mandatory trials before the corridor’s commissioning.
Officials confirmed to TH that testing is currently confined to the elevated segment of the Kalena Agrahara–Nagawara route.
The third rail, supplying power to metro trains, must pass stringent safety checks before other systems can go forward with the trial.
A senior BMRCL official stated, “The third rail testing is the first of many technical validations that ensure the reliability and safety of the line. After this, we will conduct signal system validations, test the telecommunications network, and carry out loading trials to assess structural stability under operating conditions.”
Despite this progress, the Pink Line has faced repeated delays. Initially planned to open in 2020, the timeline was pushed to December 2025.
Authorities have said that the 7.5 km elevated stretch from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere would open by March 2026, while the 13.8 km underground portion between Dairy Circle and Nagawara is projected for completion by September 2026.
Spanning 21.3 km, the Pink Line forms part of Phase 2 of the city’s metro network, linking Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north and promising improved north-south connectivity.
Tunnelling presented significant challenges, particularly through Bengaluru’s complex geology.
An official was quoted as saying, “Tunnelling through Bengaluru’s geology is exceptionally difficult. We encountered massive granite and dolerite boulders. Granite is already tough to drill through, but dolerite is even denser and more resistant to excavation equipment.”
A breakthrough came in October 2024, when tunnelling was completed for the entire underground stretch, a feat involving 21 km of tunnelling due to the twin-bore design required for bi-directional movement.
