Post-Deepavali rush: Namma Metro sees heavy crowds as commuters return after holidays

Namma Metro witnessed heavy crowds on Thursday morning, October 23, 2025, as thousands of passengers returned to the city after the Deepavali holiday. While offices, schools and colleges reopened, long queues formed at major metro stations such as Majestic, Kengeri, Yeshwantpur, Dasarahalli, Madavara and Nagasandra from 5 am.

As night buses started reaching major parts of the city, large groups of passengers from various parts of Karnataka and neighboring states flocked to the metro stations to reach their destinations. The Majestic Metro station, which serves as a transfer hub between the Purple and Green lines, recorded one of its busiest mornings.

Heavy tempo at Majestic junction

Nadaprabhu Kempegowda (Majestic) Metro Station, which provides direct connectivity to KSR Railway Station and Majestic Bus Stand, was packed with passengers throughout the morning. While hundreds of passengers lined up at ticket offices and security gates, long queues formed on the escalators leading to both metro lines.

“Since the early hours of the morning, there has been a huge influx of passengers from both the railway station and the bus terminal. We had to open additional entrance gates to accommodate this rush. All toll booths were kept open and extra staff were deployed to manage the crowd,” said a metro staff on duty.

Majestic station, a major interchange point, has seen more entrances than exits as passengers board subways towards different parts of the city. Many office workers and students were seen waiting for a few minutes before boarding the crowded trains.

“I had to let at least three trains pass before I finally got on one,” said Mohan KS, a commuter traveling from Majestic to Yeshwanthpur. “The platforms were so full it was difficult to even stand.”

Severe traffic congestion was also reported at Kengeri Metro station on the Purple Line, with ticket queues overflowing outside the entrance. Due to the increased passenger flow, security checks and body searches took longer than usual.

A metro worker in Kengeri said the rush was expected. “We knew this would happen as many people went to their hometowns during the festival. We made arrangements by assigning more staff and keeping all the ticket offices open,” the staff said.

He added that passengers prefer Kengeri station over Challaghatta or Kengeri Bus Terminal stations. “The flyover near Challaghatta makes access difficult and most passengers choose Kengeri as the bus terminus is often overcrowded,” he explained.

Passengers express disappointment

Some passengers expressed disappointment that metro officials did not make advance announcements or plan. “BMRCL should have foreseen this post-festival rush and started train operations earlier, perhaps around 4 am,” said Asha Rao, a daily commuter. “It was very inconvenient. What’s the point of having such a large network if it can’t meet the city’s travel demands during peak times?”

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials stated that additional personnel have been deployed to control crowds and ensure smooth operations at major stations. “Our teams were closely monitoring the situation to prevent overcrowding and ensure passenger safety,” an official said.

As of Thursday afternoon, BMRCL has not announced the official passenger count for the day.