Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka, is a bustling IT destination that draws a large number of working professionals every year. Several localities, such as Whitefield, Mysuru Road and Kengeri, are established employment hubs in the city. With the introduction of the Bangalore metro purple line, these localities have become easily accessible. On October 9, 2023, The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) opened the purple line, connecting Challaghatta to Kadugodi (Whitefield). The two missing sections, spanning 2.1-km Baiyappanahalli-KR Puram and 2.05-km Kengeri-Challaghatta, completed the 43.49-km purple line route.
The Purple Line metro in Bangalore is also referred to as the Namma Metro Purple Line or the East-West Corridor. Phase I of the purple line was the first underground metro stretch to be opened in South India. Bangalore Metro network is set to become the second-largest metro network in India, covering 72.85 km, after 350.2-km Delhi Metro Network. The extension of the Purple Line will be taken up under the Bangalore Metro Phase 2 project. The BMRCL will spend Rs 1168 crore to build the extension, with the cost including Rs 152 crore for land acquisition.
According to media reports, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar has announced that the state government is considering extending the Namma Metro network to Hoskote in the east, Nelamangala in the west and Bidadi in the southwest. If approved, the proposed metro routes to Hoskote and other areas are expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city and boost connectivity.
As per reports, the BMRCL has initiated the land acquisition process for the much-awaited Namma Metro Phase 3 project. The Phase 3 project of Bangalore Metro includes two corridors – a 32.15-km section from JP Nagar Phase 4 to Kempapura and 12.5-km section from Hosahalli to Kadabagere. The land acquisition will take place in phases.
Purple line metro in Bangalore: Quick facts
| Metro Line | Bangalore Metro Purple Line |
| Construction status | Operational |
| Date of opening | June 2026 |
| Number of stations | 37 (23 in Phase 1) and (14 in Phase 2) |
| Phases | Phase 1 and 2 |
| Length | 43.49 km |
| Estimated ridership | 7 lakh per day |
| Operator | Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) |
| Route | Whitefield to Challaghatta |
| Phase 1 route | Baiyyappanahalli to MG Road
Mysore Road to Magadi Road |
| Phase 2 route | Mysore Road to Kengeri
Baiyyappanahalli to KR Puram Kengeri to Challaghatta |
| Type | Elevated, At-Grade and Underground |
Purple line metro in Bangalore: Route details
The purple line, which connects the eastern and western parts of the city, comprises 37 stations. It takes around 80 minutes to cover the total distance. The metro line route passes through several important commercial hubs and landmarks, including MG Road and Vidhana Soudha. The purple metro line in Bangalore starts from Challaghatta in the southwest and ends at Whitefield in the east. It has three interchange stations for other metro lines – MG Road, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Mysore Road.
Namma metro purple line: Project construction details
Work on the 42.30-km line under Phase 1 began in April 2007. In 2011, the first segment of the purple line metro in Bangalore, connecting Baiyyappanahalli and MG road, became operational. The final section was opened on June 17, 2017. On October 9, 2023, operations began on two sections – Baiyappanahalli to KR Puram and Kengeri to Challaghatta.
The Bangalore metro line comprises a total of 37 stations. There are interchange facilities planned along the route – at KR Puram to Blue Line, at MG Road to the upcoming Pink Line, at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station, Majestic to Green Line (KSR Bengaluru), and at Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Station, Hosahalli and Mysuru Road to Orange Line.
Integrated Iblur Station Project
The BMRCL has planned to construct an integrated metro station at Iblur, which will serve two metro lines:
- Outer Ring Route: Central Silk Board to KR Puram under Phase 2A
- Sarjapur and Hebbal route under Phase 3A
The station will ensure smooth commuting for the Outer Ring Road (ORR) travelers and ensure easy access to the commercial areas, including Town Hall, Central College and Cunningham Road.
KR Puram metro station enhancement
A foot over-bridge (FOB) will be built to connect the railway station and the metro station at KR Puram in Bangalore. As per reports, the South Western Railway (SWR) and BMRCL have reached an agreement regarding the land acquisition conditions. This will pave the way for an integrated transit system. The FOB project will be developed in three phases and is expected to boost connectivity between the Namma Metro Purple Line and Blue Line stations. The renovated KR Puram railway platform will enable commuters to access the Namma Metro will ease.
Plans for last-mile connectivity
As per media reports, the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) has urged companies and tech parks along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) in Bangalore to offer shuttle services for their employees to the nearest metro station. The move will be instrumental in the opening of the Byappanahalli-KR Pura Namma Metro in the first week of October.
Purple line metro in Bangalore: Stations
| 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 (KR Pura) | Blue Line KR Puram | Elevated |
| Benniganahalli (Tin Factory) | Planned Suburban Rail Station | Elevated |
| Baiyappanahalli | At Grade | |
| Swami Vivekananda Road | Elevated | |
| Indiranagar | Elevated | |
| Halasuru | Elevated | |
| Trinity | Elevated | |
| MG 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 |
Interconnectivity with other transit modes
| Metro station | Interconnecting line or station | Status |
| Whitefield | Whitefield Railway station | Operational |
| Nallurhalli | Whitefield TTMC | Operational |
| Krishnarajapuram | Blue Line – KR Puram Railway Station | Under-construction |
| Benniganahalli | Benniganahalli Railway Station | Operational |
| Baiyappanahalli | Baiyappanahalli Railway Station | Operational |
| Mahatma Gandhi Road | Pink Line | Under-construction |
| Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station, Majestic | Green Line – KG Bus station | Operational |
| Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station | City Railway Station | Operational |
| Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Station, Hosahalli | Orange Line | Planned |
| Attiguppe | Vijayanagara TTMC | Operational |
| Mysuru Road | Orange Line | Planned |
| Jnanabharathi | Jnanabharathi Railway Station | Operational |
| Kengeri Bus Terminal | Kengeri TTMC | Operational |
Bangalore metro Purple line: Terminal stations
- Whitefield (Kadugodi): This is the western terminus of the Namma Metro Purple line, located near the bustling IT hub of Whitefield.
- Challaghatta: This is the eastern terminus of the purple line situated on the outskirts of Bangalore.
Bangalore metro Purple line: Key stations
- Byappanahalli: This is an interchange station connecting the Purple Line with the Green Line and the Yellow Line.
- KR Pura: This is another key interchange station that connects the Purple Line to the Yellow Line.
- Kengeri: It is a key metro station on the Purple Line metro connecting the Kengeri satellite town with the rest of the city.
Purple line metro in Bangalore: Upcoming lines and extension
Namma Metro Phase 3
The Karnataka government has announced its plans to extend the Bangalore Metro Purple Line under the Phase 3 project. It will include extension lines covering two directions:
- Towards east: Till Malur town in Kolar district
- Towards west: Till Bidadi in Ramanagara district
The proposed metro lines aim to boost connectivity in different parts of the city, especially the stretch between Malur and Ramanagara. The metro lines will help reduce congestion and facilitate faster commuting for Bangalore residents.
Namma Metro to connect Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Devanahalli and Hoskote
The BMRCL plans to extend the Namma Metro Network to four outlying towns – Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Devanahalli and Hoskote. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has announced that the state government is considering extending the Namma Metro network to Hoskote in the east, Nelamangala in the west and Bidadi in Ramanagara district in southwest Bangalore. If approved, the proposed metro routes to Hoskote and other areas are expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city and boost connectivity.
Bangalore metro purple line map
Source: Pinterest
Timings
| Day | Operating hours | Frequency |
| Monday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 5-6 minutes |
| Tuesday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 5-6 minutes |
| Wednesday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 5-6 minutes |
| Thursday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 5-6 minutes |
| Friday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 5-6 minutes |
| Saturday | 5 AM to 11 PM | 7-8 minutes |
| Sunday | 7 AM to 11 PM | 7-8 minutes |
Number of trains on the Namma Metro purple line
To cater to the growing demand, the BMRCL increased the train frequency from Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station-Majestic on the purple line from 6 to 15, from July 6, 2024. Among these, 10 trains travel up to Pattanduru Agrahara (ITPL), four up to Whitefield and one up to Baiyappanahalli.
During morning hours, trains originate from Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station-Majestic from 8.48 AM to 11.22 AM, at an interval of 10 minutes, towards the east. In addition, there are regular passing trains at a 3.3-minute frequency at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station-Majestic up to 10.25 AM.
Six of the fourteen trains terminating at Garudacharpalya towards Pattanduru Agrahara (ITPL)/Whitefield have been extended. At Garudacharpalya Metro Station, the interval for trains to Pattanduru Agrahara (ITPL) has been reduced to 3.5 minutes. The train frequency has increased in the evenings, starting from Baiyappanahalli at 4:20 PM towards Mysore Road station.
Facilities
The Purple metro line in Bangalore is equipped with modern facilities. These include air-conditioned train coaches, elevators and escalators, advanced safety systems, parking areas, electronic information and destination display system, etc. Further, the BMRCL has implemented the QR code facility for the metro stops on the Purple Line. These QR codes will enable passengers to access the Bangalore Purple line metro map from their mobile phones. Among other facilities is the skywalk constructed by the BMRCL, connecting the Baiyappanahalli metro station to BMRCL’s traffic integration area on the NGEF side (Kasturinagar).
Fare
The fare on the metro purple line in Bangalore is fixed depending on the distance travelled and is subject to revision by the metro authorities.
- A minimum of Rs 10 and a maximum of Rs 50 is chargeable for a token for one-way journeys.
- A minimum of 25 persons must purchase a group ticket to travel between the same set of stops. A 10% discount is available on these tickets.
- Smart cards (Varshik) are rechargeable contactless cards available for Rs 50. A discount of 5% on token fares is available. Users can charge the cards for up to Rs 3000 in multiples of Rs 50. Commuters can recharge the smart card on the Namma Metro app, WhatsApp or the customer care counters.
| Station | Metro fare from Baiyappanahalli (In Rs) |
| Swami Vivekananda Road | 9.5 |
| Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station, Majestic | 28.5 |
| Dr. BR. Ambedkar Station, Vidhana Soudha | 23.75 |
| Mysuru Road | 42.75 |
| Athiguppe | 38 |
| Deepanjali Nagar | 39.9 |
| Magadi Road | 33.25 |
| Vijayanagar | 36.1 |
| Sir M Visveshwaraya Station, Central College | 26.6 |
| Cubbon Park | 20.9 |
| Mahatma Gandhi Road | 19 |
| Halasuru | 14.25 |
| Trinity | 17.1 |
| Indiranagar | 14.25 |
Ridership
The daily ridership on the Purple Line has significantly increased since it was opened on October 9, 2023. On October 10, the day after the launch, the ridership crossed the 7-lakh mark. The Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield Section witnessed over 7.5 lakh riders on Oct 13, 2023, which is 50,000 more than the number recorded on October 11.
Features
The Purple Line metro in Bangalore includes the latest features trains with air-conditioned coaches, facilitates for the disabled, safety systems like CCTV and parking facility.
How will the purple line metro in Bangalore benefit commuters?
Bangalore, referred to as the IT capital of India, attracts numerous multinational companies, IT firms and start-ups. There are a large number of special economic zones (SEZs) and software parks in the city, creating job opportunities for people. Moreover, there is a rising number of co-working spaces in the city. Whitefield, Mysuru Road, Kengeri, Trinity Metro Station, Garudacharapalya and Indiranagar are popular employment hubs in Bangalore. With the growing number of people travelling to these areas, the Bangalore metro purple line fulfils the need for an affordable and fast mode of public transport. The metro route significantly saves travel time, providing an alternative mode of transportation and reducing traffic congestion. The purple line will provide an interchange facility for the under-construction pink, green and orange lines, which will boost the commuting experience.
What is the real estate impact of the Bangalore metro purple line?
The metro stations on the Bangalore metro purple line are strategically located to connect the bustling commercial hubs and landmarks in the city. Some of these include Whitefield, Garudacharpalya, Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, Trinity and MG Road. Besides offering seamless connectivity to commuters travelling from eastern and western parts of the city, the metro line has been a growth driver for real estate developments. The areas along the corridor have witnessed a significant increase in property demand in recent years. These include the affordable regions of Challaghatta and Kengeri. The affordable housing projects undertaken by the BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) and other projects by private developers have started on the outskirts of Bangalore. Owing to the growing property demand, the localities along the metro purple line in Bangalore have seen an appreciation in property prices.
Kengeri, a suburban area in the western part of Bangalore, is known for educational institutions, such as Bangalore University and RV College of Engineering. The locality has witnessed a price appreciation of around 25% within the last year. Mysore Road, another popular locality, has seen a price appreciation of 1.32% in one year.
In addition, the rental market has received a tremendous boost with the purple metro corridor. A significant factor contributing to this increase is the growing preference of working professionals for properties along the corridor.
Top localities along Namma metro purple line
| Localities | Property price (Rs per square foot) | Average rent (Rs per month) |
| Kengeri | 6,615 | 12,750 |
| Kodipalya | 9,136 | 9,339 |
| Sunkalpalya | 5,042 | 15,000 |
| Mysore Road | 8,100 | 18,708 |
| Kadugodi | 6,141 | 28,944 |
| Challaghatta | 6,434 | 34,400 |
| Garudachar Palya | 6,388 | 34,642 |
| Mahadevapura | 8,554 | 39,051 |
| Whitefield | 10,103 | 30,364 |
Bangalore purple line metro: Contact information
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), Byappanahalli Depot,
Old Madras Road, NGEF Stop, Bangalore – 560038
Email: travelhelp@bmrc.co.in
Contact number: 080-25191091
Toll-free Helpline 1800-425-12345
Housing.com News Viewpoint
The Bangalore metro purple line has ensured easy connectivity for commuters. It caters to working professionals, especially those coming from the eastern and western parts of the city. Moreover, the metro line will provide interconnectivity with the pink line at MG Road, the green line at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station-Majestic and the orange line at Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Station, Hosahalli and Mysuru Road. Thus, the purple line is set to become a lifeline for the people of Bangalore as it will boost connectivity to different parts of the city. The regions along the corridor have become a preferred choice for several home seekers.
FAQs
How long is Bangalore’s purple line metro route?
The Bangalore metro purple line from Challaghatta to Whitefield covers a distance of 43.49 kilometres.
Is car parking available at the Baiyappanahalli metro station?
Yes, parking is available at the Baiyappanahalli metro station.
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.
Is Bangalore’s purple line open?
Metro services on the Bangalore metro purple line route are operational from 5 AM to 11 PM from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, train services are available from 7 AM to 11 PM.
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