Namma Metro Pink Line’s 7.5-km Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere stretch ready; inauguration likely in September
After multiple missed deadlines, the 7.5-km elevated section of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Pink Line between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere is ready for commissioning, with Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda expressing hope that the Union government will clear an inauguration date in September.
The minister said the stretch is fully prepared for public use and will be opened once the Government of India confirms the schedule. “We are ready. As soon as the date is given by the Government of India, this stretch will be inaugurated and opened to people for commuting,” he said on Wednesday, following a trial run conducted with elected representatives and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials.
Pink Line overview and significance
The Pink Line is a 21.3-km corridor that will connect Kalena Agrahara in the south with Nagawara in the north. Of the total length, 13.8 km is underground—linking key central Bengaluru nodes such as Dairy Circle, M.G. Road, Shivajinagar and Tannery Road—while 7.5 km is elevated. Once fully operational, the line is expected to substantially improve north–south connectivity across the city’s core and peripheral areas.
Key developments and readiness
Officials said all systems on the elevated Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere section are in place and undergoing final checks. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya joined Mr. Gowda and BMRCL officials during a recent trial run on the corridor. In a post shared on social media, Mr. Gowda reiterated that the line segment is ready and that the State is awaiting a September date from the Centre to open the stretch to commuters.
According to the minister, rolling stock and operations planning for the initial opening are in an advanced stage. “A sufficient number of trains are presently available for commissioning the elevated stretch. The trains are currently undergoing the prescribed trials and testing and are required to complete the mandatory 750-km running before deployment for passenger services. Train operators are identified and their mandatory training is expected to be completed this week,” Mr. Gowda said.
Approvals and safety clearances
BMRCL is expecting clearance from the Railway Board for the new rolling stock shortly. This will be followed by inspection and authorisation by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), the final regulatory step before the elevated section of the Pink Line can open for public service.
Timeline slippages and revised schedule
The Pink Line has faced repeated delays, drawing criticism from commuters eager for better cross-city transit options. Mr. Gowda had earlier indicated that the elevated Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere section was expected to be operational by August 15, 2026, and that the underground Tavarekere–Nagawara section would follow by March 2027. With the August date missed, the State is now working with Union authorities to set a revised inauguration in September for the elevated portion.
What to expect next
Subject to Railway Board approvals, CMRS inspection and the completion of mandatory train trials and staff training, the Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere section will open to commuters soon after the Centre confirms an inauguration date. The State government and BMRCL say the initial commissioning of the elevated segment will mark a significant milestone toward completing the full Pink Line, which is expected to ease congestion and provide faster, more reliable journeys between southern and northern Bengaluru.
Published: September 2, 2026
