Tue May 13 17:53:35 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The much-delayed Namma Metro Pink Line in Bengaluru will miss its latest December 2025 deadline and will now open in two phases. The elevated section is expected to be functional by March 2026, while the underground section is projected to be completed by September 2026. Difficulties in the tunnelling process, particularly due to the city’s rocky terrain, have contributed to the delays. The repeated postponements have frustrated commuters who are eager for the Pink Line to alleviate Bengaluru’s traffic congestion.

**News Article:**

**Bengaluru’s Pink Line Metro Faces Further Delays, Frustrating Commuters**

Bengaluru, May 13, 2025 – The much-anticipated Namma Metro Pink Line is set to miss another deadline, with the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) announcing a phased opening extending into 2026. Originally slated for completion in 2020, the 21.3 km Pink Line, designed to connect Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, is now expected to open its 7.5 km elevated section by March 2026 and its 13.8 km underground segment by September 2026.

BMRCL officials attribute the delays to significant engineering challenges, particularly in the underground tunnelling process through Bengaluru’s rocky terrain. The presence of large granite and dolerite boulders has made drilling exceptionally difficult. The 2.2 km stretch between Shivajinagar and Vellara proved particularly complex.

The ongoing delays have sparked frustration among Bengaluru residents who see the Pink Line as a crucial solution to the city’s worsening traffic congestion. Commuters are growing impatient, citing the daily hours spent stuck in traffic and the broken promises of improved connectivity.

“Every delay means another year stuck in traffic for two hours a day,” said Nandita Rao, a Bannerghatta Road resident. “We need accountability, not just revised deadlines.”

While the infrastructure faces delays, progress is being made on the train fleet. BEML Ltd. secured a contract to manufacture and maintain metro coaches, including 96 designated for the Pink Line. A prototype train is expected by June 2025. Despite these efforts, the delays continue to cast a shadow over the project’s promise of easing Bengaluru’s traffic woes.

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