Bengaluru’s elevated Pink Line will begin passenger services at 6 am on Saturday, with trains running every eight minutes during weekday peak hours between Kalena Agrahara and SG Palya, according to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
The 7.5-km line has six stations: SG Palya, Jayadeva Hospital, NS Palya, IIMB Bilekahalli, Hulimavu and Kalena Agrahara. Jayadeva Hospital will provide an interchange with the Yellow Line, giving passengers a connection between the two corridors.
From Mondays to Fridays, trains will operate every eight minutes from 8 am to noon and from 4 pm to 9 pm. During off-peak hours, the frequency will be 10 minutes. Services will also operate every 10 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays.
The first train will depart at 4.55 am from Kalena Agrahara and at 5 am from SG Palya on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday, services will begin at 6 am from both terminal stations, while Sunday services will start at 7 am. The last train will leave Kalena Agrahara at 10.50 pm and SG Palya at 10.54 pm.
BMRCL is deploying five trains on the line, with one kept on standby. The corporation said the frequency could be revised depending on traffic patterns after operations begin. The initial schedule therefore sets the service framework while allowing the operator to adjust train deployment based on passenger demand.
The corridor, also referred to as the Bannerghatta metro line, has been built at a reported cost of Rs 3,470 crore. Work began in 2017, but the original contract was re-tendered after slow progress by Simplex Infrastructures Ltd. The remaining work was awarded to GR Infraprojects in 2021.
The Pink Line’s station mix places it close to residential areas, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and the Bannerghatta Road area. Its interchange at Jayadeva Hospital is the immediate network link identified in the announced six-station section.
The operating schedule provides earlier Monday services than the rest of the working week and a later Sunday start. BMRCL’s decision to maintain a 10-minute weekend frequency and revise services based on traffic patterns will determine how the line responds to changing commuter demand. Passenger operations are scheduled to begin with the Saturday launch.
