Namma Metro's Pink Line Elevated Section to Open This Month With 5 Driverless-Capable Trains

After years of anticipation and multiple deadline shifts, Bengaluru's Namma Metro Pink Line elevated section is finally on the verge of carrying passengers — and it's arriving with a city first: driverless-capable trains.

The elevated section: 7.5 km, 6 stations, opening this month

The first phase of the Pink Line spans 7.5 kilometres along an elevated corridor connecting Kalena Agrahara in the south to Tavarekere, passing through six stations: Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIM Bangalore, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva, and Tavarekere. Operations are set to begin in June 2026 with five driverless-capable trains supplied by BEML.

The corridor was originally targeted for launch in May 2026, but BMRCL confirmed it would not make that window — citing statutory approval requirements. With CMRS (Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety) inspection processes advancing and trains now in place at the Kothanur depot, June has emerged as the firm new target.

What makes these trains different: CBTC and GoA-2 automation

The Pink Line trains, manufactured entirely by BEML at their Bengaluru facility, use Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) — the same signalling technology that powers the Yellow Line. Each six-coach trainset can carry up to 2,008 passengers and is rated for a top speed of 90 km/h. The system is designed for GoA-4 (fully unattended) operation but will launch in GoA-2 mode, meaning a driver is on board for door management and emergencies while traction, braking, and spacing are automated.

Peak-hour frequency is planned at 4.5 minutes, dropping to 8 minutes during off-peak windows — a notably tighter headway than many existing sections at launch, enabled by the precision of CBTC.

December 2026: the underground section completes the Pink Line

The elevated stretch is only the first half of the story. The remaining 13.7-kilometre underground section — running from Dairy Circle through MG Road to Nagawara — is targeted for December 2026, completing the full 21.3-kilometre Pink Line corridor. When both phases are open, the line will carry commuters across key hubs including Jayadeva Hospital, MG Road, Cantonment and Nagawara, linking south and north Bengaluru with a single train ride.

BMRCL has ordered a total of 23 trains for the Pink Line network. With the elevated section opening first, the city gets a preview of what fully automated metro travel looks and feels like — while construction and systems commissioning on the underground tunnels continues at pace.