Namma Metro completes 12 years of transit: A journey through slow milestones and challenges

On Friday, Namma metro completes its 12th anniversary since the inauguration of its first operational stretch in 2011, Reach 1, connecting M.G. Road to Baiyappanahalli. This marked a significant moment in the city’s public transport history then, as it represented the commencement of the first mass rapid transit system

On Friday, Namma metro completes its 12th anniversary since the inauguration of its first operational stretch in 2011, Reach 1, connecting M.G. Road to Baiyappanahalli. This marked a significant moment in the city’s public transport history then, as it represented the commencement of the first mass rapid transit system.

The operation of Namma Metro, which had been conceptualised nearly two decades prior to its launch, marked a pivotal step forward in Bengaluru’s transportation infrastructure.

Currently, the city metro stands as India’s second longest operational metro network, spanning 73.81 kilometres, following the Delhi Metro.

It also marked a historic moment as it became South India’s inaugural underground metro station.

Recently, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) initiated operations for the entire 43.49 km stretch of the Purple Line, connecting Challaghatta in the west to Whitefield in the east.

However, South India’s first metro rail faced numerous challenges, including delays and missed deadlines. These setbacks have inconvenienced the public for several years, especially given the city’s existing congestion issues compounded by ongoing metro construction.

Srinivas Alavilli, a public transport advocate, said: “Despite the numerous missed deadlines during the construction of the metro line, it is crucial to recognise the challenges faced in developing such significant public infrastructure in a rapidly growing city. Bengaluru, being a 500-year-old city, presents unique challenges in urban development, especially given its rapid expansion.”