Chaos Unleashed at Bengaluru’s Namma Metro Majestic Station
Namma Metro’s Nadaprabhu Kempegowda (Majestic) station turned into a battleground of frustrated commuters on the morning of April 14, 2025. As the city bustled with activity post-Ambedkar Jayanti, the usual hustle and bustle of the metro station escalated into a frenzy of overcrowded platforms and delayed trains. The culprit? A significant drop in train frequency, from the usual 3-5 minute intervals to a staggering 8-10 minutes during peak hours.
Navigating through the labyrinth of bustling platforms, Sourav R., a daily metro commuter on his way from Jalahalli to MG Road, found himself caught in the chaos. “I have certain timings that I follow to reach the office on time. It has never changed before, so I depended on the same today,” he shared. However, the unexpected delay threw a wrench in his routine, leaving him stranded in the long waiting lines at Majestic with the next metro a daunting 15 minutes away.
Social media platforms buzzed with discontent as commuters vented their frustration, pointing fingers at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for failing to foresee the rush. “Majestic will have a stampede one of these days and only BMRCL will be to blame. No queue, no rules, it is a free-for-all today,” expressed Krishna A.G., echoing the sentiments of many exasperated travelers.
As the chaos continued to unfold, Prabha Sekhar painted a picture of “massive crowding and confusion” with no clear communication from BMRCL authorities. Even Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan joined the chorus of disapproval, denouncing the metro operator for its poor planning. Sharing a video of the chaotic scene, Mohan stressed the need for immediate action to restore normalcy and ensure better planning during public holidays.
In response to the mounting pressure, Yashwanth Chavan, Chief Public Relations Officer at BMRCL, stepped forward to address the situation. Acknowledging the crowd build-up at Majestic station due to the public holiday, Chavan announced the operationalization of four additional trains from Baiyappanahalli to Majestic to alleviate the congestion. One train was also short-terminated at Majestic and rerouted to ITPL, adding a total of seven fresh trips originating from Majestic, Garudacharpalya, and Whitefield. Additionally, evening trains from ITPL were set to operate at 5-minute intervals to ease the strain on commuters.
As the dust settled on the chaotic morning at Namma Metro’s Majestic station, commuters breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of smoother journeys ahead. The lessons learned from this disruption will undoubtedly shape future strategies to ensure a seamless travel experience for the bustling city of Bengaluru.
