The operation of Namma Metro on the entire Purple Line from Challaghatta to Kadugodi (Whitefield) has made regular metro passengers happy. On Monday, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) without any formal inauguration opened the two stretches of the Purple Line KR Puram– Byappanahalli and Kengeri – Challaghatta. The services began at 5am.
The distance between Challaghatta and Kadugodi (Whitefield) is 43km. It takes 80 minutes to cover the distance on a Metro train and fare cost is Rs 60. The entire Purple Line has 37 stations.
For the first time in the history of the BMRCL, services began on new stretches without any formal inauguration or VIP's presence. The BMRCL opened the lines after intense pressure from the regular metro users and public to open them without inauguration.

Keerthana P, a regular metro passenger, said, “ Earlier, people used to spend at least 30 minutes to reach KR Puram Metro station from Byappanahalli after exiting the metro station. Now, within a few minutes they can cross the stretch and travel towards Whitefield.”

MD of BMRCL, Anjum Parwez said, “Metro services are running smoothly. It may be a week’s time, when the operations get stabilized and there will be a gradual jump in ridership.” The BMRCL had estimated that ridership of the metro will jump by 75,000 to 80,000 once the entire Line becomes operational.

Namma purle line
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has started feeder services from KR Puram metro station to Central Silk Board by deploying 15 buses that were earlier operated between Byappanahalli and K R Puram.

An official of the BMTC said, “We are going to run more buses as feeder services from K R Puram. By afternoon, detailed information on schedule of proposed feeder services will be shared.”

Highlights of entire Purple line

• Total length of the entire Purple Line is 43.49 km.
• Total number stations on the Purple Line - 37 metro stations
• Total length of the two stretches that will be opened on Monday - 4.15 km
• Operational metro network will increase from 69.66 km to 73.81 km
• Two new stations - Benniganahalli and Challaghatta

Frequency of services
Whitefield (Kadugodi) - Pattandur Agrahara - 10 minutes
Pattandur Agrahara - Mysuru Road - 5 minutes
Majestic interchange station to M G Road - 3 minutes (during morning peak hours)
Mysuru Road to Challaghatta - 10 minutes
Services start at 5 am.
Last train from Whitefield metro station departs at 10.45 pm and from rest of the terminal stations at 11.05 pm