Heavy crowd at metro stations has become common in Bengaluru.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Namma Metro on Tuesday recorded its highest-ever daily ridership at 8.26 lakh.
This surpasses the previous record of 8.25 lakh, achieved on August 15, 2022, when the Congress booked tickets for a party convention.
Earlier this year, the highest daily ridership exceeded 8 lakh on June 19. The average daily ridership has also increased steadily, rising from 7.01 lakh in January to 7.45 lakh in June. Figures for July are not yet available.
Metro ridership in Bengaluru has been on the rise since the entire Purple Line opened in October 2023. Currently, the city's metro network spans 73.81 km, making it the second-longest in India.
An additional 101.74 km is under construction, with 22.29 km expected to open by December 2024, 21.26 km by December 2025 and 58.19 km by June 2026.
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for another 81.24 km, aiming to expand the metro network to 256.79 km by 2031. Another 170.41 km has been proposed, and feasibility studies are underway.
The increased ridership has led to severe crowding, especially during peak hours.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) currently operates 57 trainsets of six coaches each, with 34 on the Purple Line and 23 on the Green Line. Due to high demand on the Purple Line, trains from the Green Line are often diverted to it.
BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao acknowledged the rising ridership and said crowd management measures were being considered.
"We are looking at daily boardings and the peak flow to optimise train schedules as much as possible and reduce crowding," he told DH.
Rao cited crowd control measures taken at the city's busiest metro station, Majestic, such as train diversions based on demand and installing additional lifts. Plans are also afoot to install platform screen doors at Majestic to prevent mishaps, he noted.
Despite demand, the BMRCL cannot add more trains this year. China's state-owned CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd, along with its Indian partner Titagarh Rail System Ltd (TRSL), will begin supplying 21 trains for the Purple and Green lines only in 2025.
Highest daily ridership
Aug 6: 8.26 lakh
June 19: 8,08,071
May 27: 7,86,208
Feb 24: 7,59,725
Jan 25: 7,82,435
Highest average daily ridership
June: 7,45,659
May: 7,18,170
Feb: 7.05 lakh
Jan: 7.01 lakh