Bengaluru's Namma Metro network officially surpassed the 100-kilometre operational milestone on Friday, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the new 7.5-kilometre elevated Pink Line stretch. Connecting Kalena Agrahara to S.G. Palya, this vital extension promises to enhance urban connectivity across the city.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Governor Dr. Sudha Yadav, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, formally launched the service at the S.G. Palya Metro station. A notable moment occurred during the flag-off ceremony when PM Modi gestured for CM Shivakumar, initially standing at a distance, to join him. The Prime Minister then held Shivakumar's hand, inviting him to stand alongside for the green flag wave, before handing the flag to Governor Yadav.
Following the inauguration, PM Modi purchased a Metro ticket at the counter before boarding a train to the IIM-Bangalore station. He travelled in a coach alongside CM Shivakumar, Governor Yadav, Minister Byre Gowda, and MP Tejasvi Surya. During the journey, the Prime Minister was observed in conversation with Krishna Byre Gowda and sharing lighter moments, including laughter, with Chief Minister Shivakumar.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived at the S.G. Palya Metro station by car from the Tavarekere helipad. Large crowds of BJP workers and supporters lined the route, showering his vehicle with flowers and chanting slogans like "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Modi Zindabad," to which the Prime Minister responded with waves.
Developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,470 crore, the new Pink Line stretch features six elevated stations. Officials from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) briefed the Prime Minister on the project's features and its anticipated benefits, including reduced commuting times, eased traffic congestion, and a strengthened public transport network.
Chief Minister Shivakumar remarked that the inauguration represented "another major step towards building a faster, smarter and better-connected Bengaluru," promising easier daily travel and greater convenience for commuters. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda emphasised that a city powering the nation requires matching infrastructure, underscoring the need for a "shared commitment from both the State and the Centre" to expand Bengaluru's Metro network.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News