Bangalore Metro Extends Service Hours Until 2 AM on New Year’s Eve 2024 for Seamless Travel
As Bengaluru gears up for the New Year celebrations, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has announced extended metro services for those celebrating on December 31, 2024. This special move aims to ensure convenient and smooth travel for the city’s residents, reducing congestion and enhancing the experience of people out enjoying the festivities.
The extended services will affect both the Purple and Green lines of the Namma Metro. Trains will operate until 2:00 AM on January 1, 2025, with the last train departure from Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station (Majestic) scheduled for 2:40 AM. This allows late-night revelers to travel with ease as they celebrate the arrival of the New Year. The BMRCL has announced that from 11:00 PM on December 31, 2024, trains on both the Purple and Green lines will run at 10-minute intervals. This frequency is aimed at managing the expected higher footfall due to the New Year celebrations, making travel more efficient for commuters throughout the night. As part of its crowd control measures, BMRCL has made changes to the entry and exit points at the MG Road Metro Station from 11:00 PM onwards. In anticipation of large crowds, access to and from MG Road will be closed during the night. Passengers are advised to use nearby stations such as Cubbon Park and Trinity instead. These stations will act as alternatives, ensuring that travellers can still access the metro network with minimal inconvenience.
For those travelling during the extended hours, commuters can continue using their metro cards or the standard QR code tickets. However, passengers planning to travel from MG Road after 11:00 PM are advised to purchase a return journey paper ticket priced at Rs 50. This ticket system will help streamline operations and manage the crowd more effectively. To avoid further congestion at popular stations, BMRCL has issued an advisory for passengers travelling on certain routes. Those heading towards Silk Institute and Whitefield are encouraged to board trains from Trinity Metro Station. Likewise, passengers traveling towards Madivala and Challaghatta should use the Cubbon Park Metro Station as their departure point. The extension of services comes as part of BMRCL’s effort to support the celebratory atmosphere in Bengaluru. The move ensures that both residents and visitors to the city can enjoy the festivities without worrying about late-night transport options. By offering these extended hours, BMRCL has made it easier for people to enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations while ensuring safety and convenience. In related news, there has been talk about a potential fare hike for the Namma Metro. The Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) is expected to submit recommendations for a fare increase, with reports suggesting a rise between 10% and 15%. Public feedback has been taken into account during this process, and the final decision on the fare adjustment is expected to be announced soon.
