Public transport in Bengaluru

Overview

Namma Metro (transl. "Our Metro"), also known as Bengaluru Metro, is the rapid transit system serving Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, India. It is the second largest metro network in India by operational length, and it became the first metro system in South India when it opened in 2011, followed in 2016 by South India's first underground metro. The network is built, operated and expanded by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka.

Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Trains run daily between roughly 05:00 and 00:00, with headways varying between about 3 and 15 minutes depending on the line and the time of day. You enter through automatic fare collection (AFC) gates, tap or scan your ticket, ride to your destination and exit by tapping out again. The system uses standard-gauge track and a mix of underground, at-grade and elevated stations, so you may find yourself descending below the city centre on one stretch and riding high above the Outer Ring Road on another. All rakes are six-coach trains.

The network

Bengaluru's public transport is dominated by the metro, a large city bus network, and the suburban and long-distance rail terminals that ring the centre. There is no tram, light-rail or ferry service in the city.

Namma Metro (ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ, Namma Meṭro) — the rapid transit system, operated by BMRCL. Three lines are operational:
- Purple Line — Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta, an east–west corridor of about 43.49 km with 37 stations (31 elevated, one at-grade and five underground).
- Green Line — Nagasandra to Silk Institute, a north–south corridor of about 30.5 km with 29 active stations (26 elevated, three underground). It links the Peenya and Yelahanka industrial areas with Majestic and the southern suburbs of Basavanagudi, Jayanagar and Banashankari.
- Yellow Line — RV Road to Bommasandra, about 18.82 km with 16 all-elevated stations, operational since 11 August 2025. It interchanges with the Green Line at RV Road, with the future Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital, and with the future Blue Line at Central Silk Board.
Upcoming metro lines — the Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, 21.26 km, 18 stations), the Blue Line (Silkboard–KR Puram as Phase 2A and KR Puram–Airport as Phase 2B), the Orange Line (Kempapura to JP Nagar 4th Phase along the Outer Ring Road west) and the Red Line (Hebbal to Sarjapur).
Suburban and intercity rail — South Western Railway (SWR) serves the city through several terminals, including KSR Bengaluru City (code SBC, opposite Majestic and connected to Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station, Majestic), Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVB), Yesvantpur Junction (YPR, with its own metro station on the Green Line), Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC), Bengaluru East (BNCE), Krishnarajapuram (KJM) and Kengeri (KGI).
Buses — Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) runs services within the city, with major hubs at Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic, Kannada: ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡ ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ), Mysore Road Satellite Bus Stand, City Market, Shantinagar (Double Road Bus Stand) and Kengeri TTMC. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and neighbouring state corporations operate longer-distance and interstate services.

Tickets & fares

Fares are distance-based and set by BMRCL. Treat all figures below as approximate — they change, so confirm at the station or on the operator's site before you travel.

Smart tokens — single-journey tickets with a minimum fare of about ₹10. You tap in at the entry gate and deposit the token at the exit gate.
Contactless smart cards — issued for a minimum of about ₹50, with travel value loaded separately. Card travel is roughly 15–23% cheaper than tokens. A peak-hour discount of about 5% applies, with an additional 5% off-peak (about 10% total). Off-peak windows on weekdays are the start of service to 08:00, 12:00–16:00 and 21:00 to closing, and a 10% discount applies all day on Sundays and national holidays. A minimum card balance of about ₹90 is required.
Tourist passes — a 1-day pass at about ₹300, a 3-day pass at about ₹600 and a 5-day pass at about ₹800.
Varshik — a refillable card that can hold credit up to about ₹1,500, with a minimum fare of about ₹8.50.
Sanchar — a multi-trip card covering up to 100 trips between two fixed points, with a minimum fare of about ₹7.65 if 100 trips are bought in advance; it works out cheaper than Varshik.
Group tickets — paper tickets for groups of ten travelling between the same stations.
Metro-Bus Ticket (MBT) Day Pass — unlimited day travel for smart card holders: "Saral" at about ₹110 for AC buses (excluding airport buses) and "Saraag" at about ₹70 for metro plus non-AC buses.
Combo Card — an SBI debit-cum-transit card with a contactless chip and magnetic stripe, giving about 15–21% off token rates and able to hold Varshik, Sanchar and MBT tickets (Varshik by default).
QR tickets — single journey, return journey and monthly pass QR tickets are available, presented at the AFC gates. Currently one passenger per QR code, though multi-passenger group QR travel is in development.

You can buy tickets at station counters, and ticket vending machines (TVMs) are being installed. MBT day passes are sold at select bus stations and on buses near Reach 1, and Combo Cards at SBI branches. Top up smart cards at metro stations, TVMs, Airtel retail outlets or the BMRCL website; Varshik can also be topped up via SBI ATM, net or mobile banking, or auto top-up. Payment methods include smart cards, QR code tickets, paper tickets and digital payments.

From the airport

Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) sits at Devanahalli, roughly 40 km from central Bengaluru (Mahatma Gandhi Road) and about 30 km from KSR Bengaluru City railway station. The airport has two terminals, so check which one your flight uses, and note that early-morning departures may require baggage check-in up to 2½ hours in advance. Fog between 15 November and 15 February, roughly 03:00–08:30, can cause delays and diversions.

On the metro side, the Blue Line (Phase 2B) is planned to run from KR Puram to the airport, but it is not yet operational, so you cannot currently reach the airport by metro. Until it opens, plan on road transport — airport buses and taxis — for the run into the city, and allow generous time in the morning peak.

Etiquette & customs

Queuing — queue for tickets at counters and form orderly lines at the AFC gates and platform doors. Let passengers exit before you board.
Escalators — stand on one side and leave the other side clear for people walking past.
Priority seating — seats reserved for women, the elderly and passengers with disabilities are marked; give them up without being asked.
Quiet — keep phone calls and music low, and use headphones rather than a speaker.
Eating and drinking — avoid eating and drinking on trains and in paid areas; it is generally discouraged and often restricted.
Rush hour — expect crowded trains and platforms during the morning and evening peaks. Move into the carriage, keep bags close, and let others off first.
Security — bags are screened at station entrances, so allow a little extra time.

Official links

Survival terms

Metro / subway — ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ (Namma Meṭro)
Ticket — ಟಿಕೆಟ್ (ṭikeṭ)
Line — ಮಾರ್ಗ (mārga)
Entrance — ಪ್ರವೇಶ (pravēśa)
Exit — ನಿರ್ಗಮನ (nirgamana)
Transfer / interchange — ಬದಲಾವಣೆ (badalāvaṇe)
Single fare — ಒಂದೇ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದ ದರ (ondē prayāṇada dara)
Day pass — ದಿನ ಪಾಸ್ (dina pās)

Load a smart card or buy a QR ticket before your first trip, because it saves you queueing at counters and gives you a discount over single tokens on every ride.