Drop in Bengaluru metro ridership despite Purple Line extension

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As per reports, Bengaluru's Metro system has experienced a significant decrease in ridership, with daily averages falling to approximately 6.76 lakh passengers by the end of March.

This downward trend is anticipated to persist, with forecasts suggesting a further dip to below 6.5 lakh daily passengers.

According to a Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) report, the total passenger count for March was 1.76 crore.

In contrast, February recorded an average daily ridership peak of 7,05,917, setting a new record for the metro system.

However, March saw a decline of 29,000 passengers compared to the previous month. Several factors have contributed to this decline, including school exams, the ongoing water crisis, and a growing number of tech professionals choosing to work remotely.

Additionally, the unexpected drop observed in March has already exceeded the anticipated decrease in ridership for April and May due to summer vacations and increased outbound travel.

Initial estimates predicted a daily ridership of 7.5 lakh passengers following the launch of the entire purple route.

However, since the crucial section between KR Puram and Baiyappanahalli started operations on October 9, passenger numbers have remained relatively stagnant over the past six months, despite previous peaks like the 7,82,435 passengers recorded on January 25.

Officials believe that the rising temperatures in March might have played a role in the decline in ridership. Despite ongoing efforts to enhance service quality and accessibility, metro ridership continues to fluctuate.

Daily averages for previous months were recorded at 6,78,543 in January, 6,88,196 in December 2023, 6.64 lakh in November, and 6,40,441 in October.

The decrease in ridership has significant financial implications, with an estimated loss of approximately Rs 70,000 compared to the previous month.