100 km of Namma Metro: Bengaluru becomes home to India's second-largest Metro network as Pink Line opens; IIMB, JP Nagar & Tavarekere get new names

Bengaluru's Namma Metro network is set to cross the 100-km mark on Friday, November 13, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to inaugurate a 7.5-km elevated stretch of the Pink Line. Ahead of the inauguration, the Centre has approved the Karnataka government's proposal to rename three stations on the newly opened section. Karnataka's Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced the approval on Thursday, confirming that the station names have been revised in response to local demands. The three stations will now be known as Bilekahalli-IIMB, NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase and SG Palya, replacing their earlier names: IIMB, JP Nagar 4th Phase and Tavarekere, respectively.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line: Check the three renamed stations

The approved changes to the station names are:

• IIMB Metro Station: Renamed Bilekahalli-IIMB.
• JP Nagar 4th Phase Metro Station: Renamed NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase.
• Tavarekere Metro Station: Renamed SG Palya (Sadduguntepalya).

Krishna Byre Gowda said the Centre had approved the state government's proposal to implement the changes on the elevated section of the Pink Line.


He added that the decisions were taken in accordance with local demands. The proposals were discussed and finalised in the presence of Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya and MLAs Satish Reddy and Uday Garudachar.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line route: From Gottigere to Nagawara

The Namma Metro Pink Line will connect Bengaluru's southern neighbourhoods with the central business districts and northern residential areas. The corridor will run from Gottigere in the south to Nagawara in the north, passing through important localities such as Hulimavu, JP Nagar, Tavarekere, Dairy Circle, Langford Town, MG Road, Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment, Pottery Town and Venkateshpura.

The line is designed to improve connectivity across the city, linking residential neighbourhoods with key commercial and transit hubs.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line stations and interchange points

The Pink Line will have 18 stations, comprising 12 underground stations and six elevated stations. A major portion of the corridor, measuring around 13.92 km, will run underground, while approximately 6.98 km will be elevated. Another 0.48 km will be at ground level.

The corridor will also provide interchange facilities with other Namma Metro lines. Passengers will be able to switch to the Purple Line at MG Road, the Yellow Line at Jayadeva Hospital and the upcoming Blue Line at Nagawara. An interchange with the proposed Orange Line is also planned at JP Nagar 4th Phase.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line: When will the entire corridor become operational?

The Pink Line is being developed in two phases. The first phase covers the 7.5-km elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and SG Palya (formerly Tavarekere), which is scheduled to become operational on November 14, following its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, November 13.

The second phase will cover the remaining underground section between Dairy Circle and Nagawara, spanning approximately 13.8 km. This stretch is expected to become operational around March 2027, alongside Phase 2A of the Blue Line.

Why have Bengaluru Metro Pink Line stations been renamed?

According to the government order, a state-level committee examined representations regarding the naming and renaming of stations under Bengaluru Metro Phase 2, Corridor 4, before making recommendations to the Centre.

The committee recommended adding the name Bilekahalli to IIMB Metro Station because Bilekahalli is the revenue village in which the station is located. The station will therefore be called Bilekahalli-IIMB.

Similarly, NS Palya is the name of the revenue village in the area surrounding JP Nagar 4th Phase Metro Station, prompting the recommendation to rename it NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase.

In the case of Tavarekere Metro Station, the committee recommended the name SG Palya (Sadduguntepalya). Although Tavarekere is the name of the revenue village, it is located some distance from the station. SG Palya, meanwhile, is the name of the Greater Bengaluru Authority ward and is more commonly associated with the locality.

The committee also recommended retaining the name Kalena Agrahara Metro Station, as it corresponds to the revenue village. No representations were received seeking changes to the names of Hulimavu and Jayadeva Metro stations.

PM Modi to inaugurate Bengaluru Metro Pink Line stretch on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 7.5-km elevated section of the Pink Line between Kalena Agrahara and SG Palya on Friday, November 13.

He is expected to flag off the Metro service at around 12.30 pm near Dairy Circle and travel by Metro to Bilekahalli-IIMB station, where the main event will be held.

The opening of the new stretch will increase Bengaluru's operational Metro network from 96.1 km to 103.6 km, taking the city beyond the 100-km milestone. Bengaluru will consequently have India's second-largest operational Metro network.

Commercial operations on the newly inaugurated section are expected to begin on Saturday.

Centre approves Bengaluru Metro station name changes

The approval was communicated by Surya Narayan Jha, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary in the Urban Development Department.

The three renamed stations are part of the elevated stretch of the Pink Line being inaugurated on Friday, marking another milestone in Bengaluru's Metro expansion.


Inputs from agencies