Mon Sep 08 13:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, focusing on the key information:

**Bengaluru’s Pink Line Metro Delayed Again, Now Expected to Open in Stages by 2026**

**Bengaluru, September 8, 2025** – Commuters eagerly awaiting the completion of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Pink Line will have to wait a bit longer. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced today that the long-delayed project will now be opened in two phases, with full operations not expected until September 2026.

The Pink Line, a 21.3-km corridor linking Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north, was originally slated for completion in 2020. The latest revised timeline indicates that the 7.5-km elevated section from Tavarekere to Kalena Agrahara along Bannerghatta Road will be commissioned by March 2026. The remaining 13.76-km underground section, connecting Dairy Circle to Nagawara, is scheduled to open by September 2026.

BMRCL officials cited challenging tunnelling conditions as a primary reason for the repeated delays. The city’s subsoil composition, characterized by granite formations and dolerite boulders, proved difficult for tunnelling machines. The 2.2-km tunnel between Shivajinagar and Vellara Junction was particularly problematic due to the combination of difficult terrain and dense urban development.

Despite the setbacks, BMRCL insists progress is being made. Civil construction is complete on the elevated portion, and work continues on stations in the underground segment. Track installation and system integration are underway across both sections. The “third rail” testing has been successfully completed on the elevated section, paving the way for further technical trials.

“We will subsequently conduct trials of the signalling network, assess telecommunications systems and carry out load tests to ensure the structures perform safely under operating conditions,” a senior BMRCL official explained.

The Yellow Line finally opened in August after a four-year delay, bringing hope that BMRCL can deliver this new north-south connection by 2026. The Pink Line forms a critical part of Phase 2 of Namma Metro’s expansion, offering a vital north-south link for the city.

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