Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10, marked the inauguration of Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro by taking a symbolic 19.15-kilometer ride from R.V. Road (Ragigudda) Metro Station to Bommanahalli Metro Station, engaging with students, women, Metro workers, and staff along the way.
Joining the Prime Minister on board were 16 girl students from government schools, eight workers who contributed to building the Yellow Line, and several Metro employees. During the ride, PM Modi engaged in light-hearted conversation, listening to their experiences and sharing words of encouragement.
At one point, PM Modi was flanked by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, with both leaders sharing an animated conversation and hearty laughter with him. The unusual moment of camaraderie between the state’s political rivals and the Prime Minister drew attention on social media and among the passengers present.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi formally inaugurated the Yellow Line at the R.V. Road Metro Station, a stretch connecting Bengaluru’s central district to the tech hub of Electronics City. Before entering the platform, he personally purchased a ticket by scanning a QR code, a gesture welcomed by Metro officials.
Officials from the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), along with CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar, briefed the Prime Minister on the project’s features before he flagged off the inaugural train.
The event drew a high-profile gathering, including Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister Manohar Lal, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, and Bengaluru Rural BJP MP C.N. Manjunath.
Despite heavy showers, thousands of residents thronged the R.V. Road station to witness the event. Supporters raised slogans, showered flowers on the Prime Minister’s motorcade, and waved enthusiastically. PM Modi, in turn, responded with a warm wave before boarding the Metro.
The Yellow Line, spanning 19.15 km and comprising 16 stations, is expected to greatly reduce travel time between Bengaluru’s business districts and its IT hub while benefiting an estimated 18 lakh commuters in South Bengaluru.
