Commuters fear congestion at RV Road metro station amid Pink Line opening
The partial opening of the elevated section of the Pink Line may force passengers to make multiple interchanges.
The proposed opening of the elevated section of the Namma Metro Pink Line is expected to improve connectivity for south Bengaluru residents, according to The Hindu. However, commuters have expressed concerns that the partial opening could increase passenger crowding at the RV Road interchange station.
With the 13.8-km underground section of the Pink Line still under construction, passengers moving from south Bengaluru toward the central and eastern areas of the city may need to switch between several metro lines. This could increase pressure on existing interchange stations, particularly RV Road, where commuters must change corridors to reach their destinations.
Sunitha K., a commuter from Bilekahalli, said the RV Road Metro Station is already short on platform space and could become more crowded than Majestic. She noted that reaching M.G. Road would require switching from the Pink Line to the Yellow Line, then the Green Line, and finally the Purple Line.
Advaith Raj, a resident of Hulimavu, said the underground section would make a substantial difference for those travelling between south Bengaluru and the central business district. He noted that passengers heading to Whitefield would currently need to change lines at Jayadeva Hospital, RV Road, and Majestic.
Manoj Kumar, a resident of BTM Layout, said the extra interchanges and longer travel times might lead some passengers to choose buses, autos, or cabs instead. He added that the new stretch could attract more people travelling toward Majestic, making station management important.
A Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) official said the corporation will monitor passenger movement and crowd levels at RV Road. The official stated they will assess volumes and peak-hour congestion to take measures such as regulating movement and deploying more staff.
The 7.5-km elevated section of the 21.3-km Pink Line is likely to be inaugurated on November 13. The BMRCL is targeting the first half of 2027 to open the entire corridor, once the underground section is completed and cleared.