The Pink Line of Namma Metro is under construction and will form part of the metro rail network for the city of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The line connects Kalena Agrahara station (previously named Gottigere) on Bannerghatta Road in the south with Nagawara station on Outer Ring Road in the north.
The line passes from the southern suburbs and neighbourhoods of Bengaluru, such as Gottigere, Hulimavu, Jaya Prakash Nagar, Tavarekere, Dairy Circle Junction, Langford Town along Bannerghatta Road with the central parts of Bengaluru such as MG Road, Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment and passes through the northern residential areas of Bangalore such as along Pottery Town, Venkateshpura, Kadugondanahalli and Nagawara along the Nagawara Road.
The Pink Line is mostly underground () but also has a elevated section and a at-grade (surface) section. There are 18 stations on the line, including 12 underground and 6 elevated ones.bmrc.co.in/pdf/phase2/phase2forweb.pdf Pink Line will have an interchange with the Purple Line at MG Road station. It will also have interchanges with the Yellow line at Jayadeva Hospital station, the Blue Line at Nagawara, and the Orange Line at JP Nagar 4th Phase. The Blue Line is under construction.
The entire line is planned to open in two phases where the first phase, covering a total distance of 7.5 km stretch (Kalena Agrahara - Tavarekere), is expected to be operational by mid-October 2026 whereas the second phase, covering the remaining distance of 13.8 km stretch (Dairy Circle - Nagawara) is expected to be operational around March 2027 (along with Phase 2A of Blue Line).
This line was initially planned as Red Line, when the Phase 2 plan was released in 2014. However, the colour was changed from Red to Pink in late 2019, stating that the colour Red meant "stop" in transport/travel (eg: Red signal, Red flag etc.). However, the colour Red got transferred to another upcoming metro line, belonging to BMRCL Phase-3A
History History Section Planned OpeningTermini Length Stations Reach 6 (Elevated) November 2026 Kalena AgraharaTavarekere 6 Reach 6 (UG) March 2027 TavarekereNagawara12TotalKalena AgraharaNagawara18
In 2007, as follow up to the Metro Phase that was about to begin construction then, RITES had recommended several mono-rail routes totaling . These recommendations were made as Government of Karnataka requested a survey of feeder routes for Phase l of metro that was to begin construction. One of the routes was entirely on Bannerghatta Road from Bannerghatta National Park up to its northern end at Hosur Road (near Adugodi). At that stage, Bannerghatta Road was not expected to have high growth and dense population, hence the recommendation for Monorail. However, by 2010 itself, it became apparent that Bannerghatta Road would need a higher capacity system than a monorail. Also, Karnataka government did not favor a monorail system and preferred expansion of the Metro system. Accordingly, for its Phase ll, BMRC had requested DMRC for a DPR for the route between Bannerghatta to Yelahanka via:
Jayadeva Underpass, Hosur Road, Brigade Road, MG Road, Kamaraj Road, Tannery Road, Nagavara Junction (along Outer Ring Road), Sahakara Nagar, Vidyaranyapura to Yelahanka. Jayamahal Extension, RT Nagar, Nagavara Junction (along Outer Ring Road), Sahakara Nagar to Yelahanka.
The DPR had noted that the Metro Alignment may have to go underground after Jayadeva flyover (along Bannerghatta Road) up to Nagawara junction (along Outer Ring Road). The remaining portion could be elevated.
Planning Since there were plans for a line along Outer Ring Road and also the possibility that a link to Airport may have to be routed along Airport Road (passing Yelahanka), BMRC opted to terminate the Pink Line in Phase ll at Nagawara.
Land requirement was estimated at and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) was tasked with acquiring land on behalf of BMRC. A total of 690 trees were to be cut to build the line (438 trees for the elevated section and 252 trees for the underground stretch).
On 14 July 2017, BMRC unveiled the alignment of the underground section of the line. The alignment included a modification from the original plan - Cantonment metro station had been proposed to be constructed on Indian Railways land next to Cantonment railway station. Due to technicalities (steep gradient between Shivajinagar and Cantonment, sharp curve past the old location of Cantonment Station, construction below built-up structures, difficulty acquiring land and very high costs of demolishing several properties in the area), BMRC opted to shift Cantonment Metro Station. Cantonment Metro Station would instead be built under a playground belonging to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), near Bamboo Bazaar.
This was resented by sections of the public as the new location would be further away from the entrance of Cantonment station. SWR is however planning new suburban platforms on railways land that is towards the Metro station. A skywalk or pedestrian subway is being planned to connect the Metro station to Cantonment Railway Station.
The MG Road station on the Pink Line is to be located under Kamaraj Road and will serve as an interchange station with the Purple Line.
Tendering Due to long underground section with tunneling in difficult geology, the cost of the Pink Line was expected to be high. Total cost estimates for the line were in March 2017 (most expensive line in Phase ll).
BMRCL initially floated tenders for the construction of the underground section in four packages during June 2017. However, all bids received were too high (nearly 70% higher). Since bids were too high, all tenders for the underground section had been canceled by BMRCL on 26 March 2018. There was speculation of collusion as bids were similar and each bidder had quoted lowest for one package, thus all four might get to be awarded one package each. The second round of tendering resulted in bids that were closer to estimates by BMRCL and were awarded to three firms during February–November period, 2019. One of the firms (L&T) won two bids. The total awarded tunneling tenders for the underground sections was ₹5,925.95 crores (appx US$812 million).
BMRCL initially awarded the Reach 6 Elevated section to Simplex Infrastructures on 8 September 2017 for a cost of . However, following the poor progress by the company BMRCL terminated the contract and called for a fresh tender to finish the remaining works in February 2021. GR Infraprojects, ITD-Cem, and Afcons made bids for the section with GR Infraprojects emerging as the lowest bidder and thus winning the tender.
Pre-Construction ActivityTenderingSectionActivitySuccessful Bid /CostContractorAwardReach-6/2016/Demolition/DLN-7/03Kalena Agrahara to TavarekereDemolitionB R Chawla Demolition13 Jul 2016Reach-6(UG)/2017/Demolition/DLN-8/20Tavarekere to NagawaraDemolitionB R Chawla Demolition15 May 2017CEE-1/ELE-US/R-6/PH-II/DPO/2017-18/60Gottigere Limits to Fortis HospitalShifting of Electrical LinesR.K Associates18 May 2018CEE-1/ELE-US/[R-6, Ph-II]/DPO/2017-18/28Fortis Hospital to Jayadeva CircleShifting of Electrical LinesAravinda Electricals08 Sept 2017CEE(Ele-1)/DPO/0018/R6UG/2017-18/64Jayadeva Circle to Dairy CircleShifting of Electrical LinesAravinda Electricals31 Oct 2017CEE(Ele-1)/DPO/0018/R6UG/2017-18/64Dairy Circle to NagawaraShifting of Electrical LinesGowtham Electricals14 Jun 2018Total Civil WorkTenderingSectionLengthSuccessful Bid /CostContractorAwardPhase-2/Reach-6/elevated/Via &Stn/2016/17Kalena Agrahara - Dairy CircleSimplex Infrastructure 08 Sept 2017Reach 6 UG Pkg-1Dairy Circle - Langford Town₹1,526.33 crore (US$218 million)Afcons06 Nov 2019Reach 6 UG Pkg-2Langford Town - ShivajinagarLarsen & Toubro28 Feb 2019Reach 6 UG Pkg-3Shivajinagar - Tannery RoadLarsen & Toubro28 Feb 2019Reach 6 UG Pkg-4Tannery Road - Nagawara ₹1,771.25 crore (US$253 million)ITD-Cem06 Nov 2019Reach-6/Elevated/Via&Stn/RC/2021/75Kalena Agrahara - Dairy CircleGR Infraprojects03 Aug 2021NoteReach 6 Elevated contract awarded to Simplex Infrastructure was cancelled by BMRCL due to poor progress. 37% of the civil work was finished at that time of cancellation. BMRCL later invited new tenders to finish the remaining civil work, which was then awarded to GR Infraprojects.Total TVS & E&MTenderingSectionLengthSuccessful Bid /CostContractorAwardECTVS – 01TVS, ECS & SCADA Stands for Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) and Environmental Control System (ECS).Blue Star02 Jun 2022ECTVS – 02TVS, ECS & SCADA UMPESL06 Mar 2023E&M-4/UG & Elev/Ph-IIElectrical & Mechanical Blue Star25 May 2022E&M-5/UG/Ph-IIElectrical & Mechanical Blue Star30 Nov 2022Total Station WorkTenderingSectionLengthSuccessful Bid /CostContractorAwardPhase II/ICB No. 4 ELEV-DM ElevatorsKalena Agrahara to TavarekereJohnson Lifts03 Feb 2021Phase II/ICB No.7 ESCAL - DM Elevated Station Escalators Dairy Circle - NagawaraSchindler India2 June 2021Phase-II/5 ELEV-DMElevatorsDairy Circle - NagawaraJohnson Lifts19 Aug 2022R6-Elevated/Arch. Works/STN/2022/87Architectural Finishing WorksKalena Agrahara to TavarekereMysore Light & Interiors11 Aug 2022Bal Arch. Wks/RT01 & RT02/R6-UG/2025/124Architectural Finishing WorksCantonment - NagawaraDC Facility Management23 May 2025Bal Arch. Wks/RT01 & RT02/R6-UG/2025/125Architectural Finishing WorksDairy Circle - ShivajinagarANU Constructions23 May 2025Total MiscellaneousTenderingSectionLengthSuccessful Bid /CostContractorAwardPhase II/ICB No.EP4-CC The cost for Reach-6 was averaged out from the total contract value750V DC Third Rail electrificationLinxon India06 Feb 2021Reach-6/KOTHNURDEPOT/2019/58Kothanur DepotISGEC Heavy Engineering9 July 202060E1 880 Grade Rails/RT01/2020/68 Track WorkJindal Steel12 Jan 20215RS-DMRolling Stock (96 Coaches)BEML08 Aug 2023Rolling Stock (42 Coaches)BEML29 Mar 2025S&T-DM CBTC signaling & Platform Screen Door Alstom Transport12 Jun 2024CEE/ELE/SL/R6/PH-II/2019-20/DPO/134/231LED Street Lights, Control Switches, CablesBasavashree Electricals16 Sept 2019Reach-6/Road work/2020/67Road, Drain, Footpath development works M R Pro Tech20 Nov 2020TotalTotal Cost
Construction Elevated Section
In March 2017, BMRC had floated tender for construction of the elevated section between Kalena Agrahara (previously Gottigere) and Tavarekere (previously Swagat Cross) stations for construction of the elevated section of Pink Line with viaduct, five stations and depot entry line to Kothanur depot. The tender was awarded to Simplex Constructions for 578.70 crores on 8 September 2017.
Due to very slow progress by Simplex, their tender was canceled and a fresh tender was called for the remaining works in February 2021. GR Infra was the lowest bidder and the tender was awarded to them in July, 2021.
Underground Section
Pre-tunneling construction work and piling for stations began in May 2019 by L&T. Tunnel boring using TBMs began in August–September 2020 by L&T with two TBMs. L&T uses four TBMs named Urja, Avni, Vindhya and Lavi. Two TBMs (Avni and Lavi) are used for tunnel boring southwards from Shivajinagar towards Rashtriya Military School. The other two TBMs (Urja and Vindhya) are used for boring southwards from Cantonment to Shivajinagar after which they will be shifted back to Cantonment to bore tunnels northwards towards Tannery road.
Tunnel boring work by Afcons with three TBMs (Varada, Rudra and Vamika) on the section between Rashtriya Military School and Dairy Circle began during March–June 2021 period.
ITD-Cem began tunnel works during June–August 2021 period on the Venkateshpura-Nagawara section.
The underground part of the Pink Line in Namma Metro is almost finished, with 95% completion between Tannery Road and Nagawara that stretches between two underground points. As per latest updates from the BMRCL officials, the elevated section is expected to be operational by March 2026, whereas the underground section is expected to be operational by December 2026.