Bangalore is a centre for technology and may soon overtake Silicon Valley as the global hub for startups. Startup activity in the city is rising, but so is the traffic. The government started the Bangalore metro in 2011 to address this issue.
The BMRCL, on October 9, 2023, opened the Bangalore metro’s 43-km purple line, connecting Challaghatta to Kadugodi (Whitefield). The two missing sections – 2.1-km Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura and 2.05-km Kengeri-Challaghatta. The metro line passes through important economic hubs of Whitefield and Kengeri. The opening of the purple metro line is expected to ease connectivity between the eastern and western parts of the city.
The first underground metro stretch in south India was Phase I of the purple line. The Purple line comprises 37 stations and it takes around 80 minutes to cover the total distance.
The Bangalore Metro network is set to become the second-largest metro network in India, covering cover 72.85 km, after 350.2-km Delhi Metro Network. Media reports cited a letter from MoHUA stating that the two sections will be formally dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister within two weeks in the presence of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. There will be no formal function to mark the opening, according to the official statement.
Purple metro line: Facts
City | Bangalore |
Route | Purple line |
Total stops | 22 |
Start station | Kengeri |
End station | Baiyappanahalli |
Distance | Approximately 20 km |
Operating time | 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM |
Bangalore purple line metro route: Stations
Depending on the time of day, purple line trains feature three carriages, may travel at a top speed of over 65 km/h, and run every 4 to 15 minutes. Three stations are underground, and one is at grade, although most stations along the line are elevated. Each station along the railway has four emergency exits, and the stations are designed to resist earthquakes that occur in zone III.
The following metro stations are the purple line metro route stations from the Baiyappanahalli metro station to the Kengeri metro station
Station name | Interchange/transit | Layout |
Whitefield (Kadugodi) | Elevated | |
Hopefarm Channasandra | Elevated | |
Kadugodi Tree Park | Elevated | |
Pattanduru Agrahara | Elevated | |
Sri Sathya Sai Hospital | Elevated | |
Nallurhalli | Elevated | |
Kundalahalli | Elevated | |
Seetharamapalya | Elevated | |
Hoodi | Elevated | |
Garudacharapalya | Elevated | |
Singayyanapalya | Elevated | |
Krishnarajapura (K.R.Pura) | Blue Line KR Puram | Elevated |
Benniganahalli (Tin Factory) | Planned Suburban Rail Station | Elevated |
Baiyappanahalli | At Grade | |
Swami Vivekananda Road | Elevated | |
Indiranagara | Elevated | |
Halasuru | Elevated | |
Trinity | Elevated | |
Mahatma Gandhi Road | Pink Line (under construction) | Elevated |
Cubbon Park | Underground | |
Dr. BR. Ambedkar Station, Vidhana Soudha | Underground | |
Sir M. Visveshwaraya Station, Central College | Underground | |
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station, Majestic | Green Line (KSR Bengaluru) | Underground |
Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station | Underground | |
Magadi Road | Elevated | |
Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Station, Hosahalli | Orange Line (proposed) | Elevated |
Vijayanagara | Elevated | |
Attiguppe | Elevated | |
Deepanjali Nagara | Elevated | |
Mysuru Road | Orange Line (proposed) | Elevated |
Pantharapalya – Nayandahalli | Elevated | |
Rajarajeshwari Nagara | Elevated | |
Jnanabharathi | Elevated | |
Pattanagere | Elevated | |
Kengeri Bus Terminal | Elevated | |
Kengeri | Elevated | |
Challaghatta | Elevated |
Bangalore purple line metro route
The metro line virtually connects the entire city. For the areas that are not connected, metro connectivity is being built. The line goes via many of the city’s most important activity hubs, including MG road and Vidhana Soudha.
The purple line has three interchange stations that can be connected to other metro lines. MG road, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, and Mysore road are the names of the interchange stations.
Top attractions | Nearest station with a distance |
Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park | Cubbon Park – 0.8 km |
Racecourse | Cubbon park – 1.9 km |
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium | Cubbon park – 1 km |
St Mark’s Cathedral | Cubbon park – 0.7 km |
Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum | Cubbon Park – 1 km |
M Chinnaswamy Stadium | Cubbon Park – 0.2 km |
Bangalore Palace | Vidhana Soudha – 2.8 km |
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath | Majestic – 2.1 km |
Mantri Square Mall | Majestic – 1.8 km |
GT World Mall | Magadi Road – 0.5 km |
St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church | Cubbon Park – 0.8 km |
St Mary’s Basilica | Cubbon Park – 1.1 km |
Commercial Street | Cubbon Park – 1.5 km |
Bangalore purple line metro route extension
The purple line’s expansion in both directions is a component of Phase II construction. It will be expanded to Kengeri from Mysore road in the east and Whitefield from Baiyappanahalli in the west. The route will be over 42 kilometres long and have 36 stations following both additions.
In June 2023, BMRCL proposed three new Metro lines spanning around 77 km in the city and its outskirts. A 17-km metro line from Whitefield to Hoskote via Katamanallur gate, an inner ring road for 35 km which would run as a circle inside the Outer Ring Road, and a 25-km line from the Old Airport Road through Marthahalli underpass to Varthur and then Kadugodi.
Bangalore purple line metro map
Kengeri is the starting point, and Baiyappanahalli is the ending point of the purple line metro route Bangalore. Simple service is provided by the purple line (Mysore road). There are 22 stops along the purple line, and the journey lasts roughly 59 minutes.
Source: Pinterest
Purple line metro route construction
In April 2007, work on the 42.30 km of routes that make up Bangalore metro Phase 1 began. In 2011, the purple line’s first segment connecting Baiyyappanahalli and MG road became operational. On June 17, 2017, the president of India opened the sixth and final portion, and the following day, business operations began.
In September 2015, work began on the Mysore road – Pattanagere, reaching 2A of the purple line, the first new stretch of the 73.921 km Bangalore metro phase 2 system. Due to the project’s financial difficulties, the government only issued most civil construction contracts in the first half of 2017.
While the green line’s extension to the silk institute began operating in January 2021, the completion of the entire phase, which includes a 13.9 km underground segment of the pink line, is not anticipated until 2024, when the metro network will have a total length of 116.25 km.
Bangalore purple line metro route: Schedule
The purple line metro line runs continuously. Regular business hours are 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
- A pilot train will leave BYPH & MYRD at 5:00 AM with a limited speed, and passengers will arrive at KGWA at 5:30 AM.
- Stations open to passengers 10 minutes before train departure.
- At 5:30 PM, BYPH & MYRD begin their regular revenue service.
- The regularity of train service concerning the departure stations, BYPH & MYRD.
- At 23:00 hours, BYPH & MYRD’s regular revenue service terminates.
Day | Operating hours | Frequency |
Sunday | 7:00 AM – 10:40 PM | 8 mins |
Monday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 5 mins |
Tuesday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 5 mins |
Wednesday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 5 mins |
Thursday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 5 mins |
Friday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 5 mins |
Saturday | 5:00 AM – 11:00 PM | 8 mins |
Purple line metro route: Fare
Bangalore metro fares are computed depending on the distance travelled and are subject to change.
- A minimum of Rs.10 and a maximum of Rs.50 for a token is chargeable and ideal for solo, one-way trips.
- A minimum of 25 persons must purchase a group ticket if they wish to travel together between the same set of stops. A 10% discount is offered on these tickets compared to token fares.
- Smart card (Varshik): available for Rs.50, these rechargeable contactless cards provide 5% off token fares. Users can load up to Rs.3000 in multiples of Rs.50.
Bangalore metro real estate impact
The Bangalore Metro Purple Line is expected to provide enhanced connectivity to commuters travelling towards Whitefield, which is a hub for several tech parks. Besides, it will boost real estate developments in the affordable regions of the city such as Challaghatta and Kengeri.
There are several affordable housing projects undertaken by BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) in the outskirts of the city. These areas will now witness improved connectivity. Owing to the metro project, the economic hubs of Kengeri and Whitefield have witnessed growing real estate demand and increase in property prices.
Bangalore metro: Latest updates
Bangalore Metro Purple line, demand for increase in train frequency
October 18, 2023: After the Bangalore Metro Purple line became operational on October 9, 2023, the daily ridership reached unprecedented heights, according to a TOI report. However, with the overcrowding of the trains, there have been requests for increasing the train frequency from the commuters. The BMRCL MD Anjum Parvez said, as cited in the report, with the available fleet of Metro trains, the frequency of services cannot be increased. Once new trains are introduced, BRMCL can operate trains at a frequency of three minutes on both the lines. The metro runs loop trains at three-minute interval between Majestic and MG Road during rush hour.
Bangalore Metro to run additional trains on Purple line from September 1
September 1, 2023: BMRCL has said in an official statement that it has planned to operate additional train services between the Mahatma Gandhi Road station and the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Majestic metro stations starting today. The move is aimed at accommodating high passenger footfall during weekdays. The agency will extend the additional services to other metro lines in the city. BMRCL said that the additional services would be operated only till the MG Road station and those who want to travel to Baiyappanahalli should take another metro train at MG Road station.
Bangalore purple line metro route: Contact information
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd,
Byappanahalli Depot,
Old Madras Road, NGEF Stop,
Bengaluru – 560 038
Email: [email protected]
Contact number: 080 -25191091
Toll-free Helpline 1800-425-12345
FAQs
How long is Bangalore's purple line metro route?
The Byappanahalli and Kengeri terminal stations are on the 25 km-long Bangalore metro purple line.
What time does the purple line metro station close on Sunday?
On Sundays, the purple line's services end at 10:40 PM.
Does Bangalore's purple line metro have parking?
Six places along the Purple Line offer two-wheeler parking. Station at Baiyappanahalli Station Swami Vivekananda Station Indiranagar Station near Magadi Road Homestead Station Station on Mysore Road
Is it possible to park a car in the Baiyappanahalli metro station?
In front of the KGID building, parking has been set aside for the cars of police officers and other personnel assigned to security duties.
What is the parking cost along the purple line metro route in Bangalore?
The maximum daily parking fees for two- and four-wheelers are Rs. 30 and Rs. 60, respectively.
Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected] |
Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.