Bengaluru: The Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), M Maheshwar Rao, on Wednesday said that the upcoming launch of the Yellow Line is expected to significantly increase Namma Metro’s ridership. Addressing an event, Rao noted that passenger numbers could reach as high as 14 lakh in the coming months.

Rao acknowledged the repeated delays in the launch of the Yellow Line, which have led to frustration among daily commuters. However, he assured that the new line will enhance regional connectivity in Bengaluru and offer greater convenience to residents by reducing travel time and easing traffic congestion across several key routes.

Confident of August launch

“Last year when I joined, I had promised that we would start the Yellow Line in four months. I think I'm horribly wrong there. By August, we should be able to start operations and we are very, very confident,” Rao was quoted as saying by Deccan Herald.

He admitted that while there had been setbacks, efforts were ongoing to ensure that the line becomes operational without further delays.

Key locations to benefit

The 19.15-kilometre-long Yellow Line will connect RV Road with Bommasandra and will traverse several major parts of the city, including Electronics City, Silk Board Junction, and Jayadeva Hospital. According to Rao, the Yellow Line will substantially boost ridership by linking some of Bengaluru’s most populated and traffic-prone corridors.

Ridership decline in May

The announcement comes after BMRCL reported a dip in ridership in May 2025. The average daily ridership fell to 7.56 lakh passengers, a drop compared to earlier months.

Despite this decline, the corporation remains optimistic that the situation will improve in the near future, especially once the Yellow Line becomes operational.