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The first phase will open in May 2026. It consists of a 7.5 km elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere. The second phase is expected to come by November 2026.
The first phase of the Blue Line from Silk Board to KR Puram is expected to commence operations in December 2026. Image:
Every traveler to Bengaluru knows this drill. You leave home early, promising yourself that today will be different, and yet you end up crawling through the Silk Board traffic or pushing past Hebble. The city that once moved at a fast pace now feels stuck in permanent slow motion.
But in 2026, that daily frustration may finally come to a halt.
Namma Metro has planned what many are calling a double dose of good news for Bengaluruans. Two major new routes, the Pink Line and the Blue Line, are set to open in phases throughout the year, providing faster travel and much-needed relief from road congestion.
For a city that lives on busy schedules and narrow roads, this is not just infrastructure news. It’s hope with a timetable.
Two new lines, a big change for passengers
With the Green, Purple and Yellow lines already dictating how the city runs, the addition of the Pink and Blue lines could bring Bengaluru closer to a near-complete metro network.
Officials say commercial operations on both new lines are expected to begin by the end of 2026. If the timeline is maintained, commuters in some of the city’s most traffic-stricken areas could eventually swap long road journeys for smoother rail journeys.
Pink Line: Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara
The Pink Line is one of the most awaited features in Namma Metro. Spread over approximately 21.25 km, it connects Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru to Nagavara in the north, cutting through some of the busiest residential and commercial areas of the city.
The rollout will take place in two major phases.
The first phase will open in May 2026. It consists of a 7.5 km elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, in which 6 stations will come into service. For commuters to South Bengaluru, this alone can make daily travel to the central parts of the city much easier.
The second phase is expected to take place by November 2026, when the underground section between Tavarekere and Nagavara will become operational. This stretch comprises 12 underground stations and is being seen as a major engineering milestone for the metro network.
Adding to the excitement, a driverless train manufactured by BEML has already arrived for the Pink Line, marking Bengaluru’s continued move towards more advanced metro operations.
Blue Line: Silk Board to KR Puram
If there is one corridor that defines Bengaluru’s traffic problems, it is the Silk Board. And this is where the Blue Line steps in.
The first phase of the Blue Line, running from Silk Board to KR Puram, is expected to open by December 2026. The extension stretches for approximately 17.75 km and comprises 13 stations, connecting major IT and residential hubs in the southeast and east of the city.
The entire Blue Line will eventually cover a distance of 58.19 km, but for now, commuters are pinning their hopes on this first phase to overcome some of the city’s most notorious bottlenecks.
The second phase of the Blue Line is scheduled for 2027, which will further expand the network and strengthen east-west connectivity.
Why does this matter for everyday travel?
For daily commuters, this expansion is more than just new stations on the map.
These two lines are expected to reduce pressure on the roads which currently handle heavy volume of private vehicles and buses. Areas like Kalena Agrahara, Tavarekere, Nagavara, Silk Board and KR Puram see huge crowds every day. A reliable metro option could mean fewer cars, shorter travel times and more predictable trips.
Passengers themselves have been vocal about the impact of these lines. Many believe that once both routes become operational, Bengaluru will see a significant reduction in peak-hour traffic.
Timeline travelers should see
This is what the next year looks like for the major expansion of Namma Metro.
The elevated section of the Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere will be inaugurated in May 2026.
The underground extension of the Pink Line from Tavarekere to Nagawara will come into service in November 2026.
The first phase of the Blue Line from Silk Board to KR Puram is expected to commence operations in December 2026.
A city waiting for movement
Bengaluru’s traffic problems eased for some time after the pandemic, but the relief did not last long. With offices resuming operations and vehicle numbers increasing, the city is once again gasping for breathing space on its roads.
The pink and blue lines can’t solve everything overnight. But for thousands of travelers, they could eventually turn long, stressful trips into shorter, predictable trips.
In a city where time is measured in traffic jams, this just isn’t good news. That is life changing news.
January 08, 2026, 10:30 IST
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