21 Breakdowns in 3 Years: Namma Metro’s Long List of Disruptions Explained

Train services on Bengaluru's Namma Metro Purple Line were disrupted on Friday morning after a train door failed to close properly at Cubbon Park station. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) restored operations within 17 minutes, but the incident led to cascading delays across the corridor.

According to officials, passengers were safely evacuated from the affected train at Cubbon Park as a precautionary measure. Maintenance teams were immediately deployed to fix the technical fault. BMRCL later said normal services were restored quickly and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to commuters.

However, the brief disruption impacted operations beyond the affected train. At least five subsequent services on the Purple Line were delayed due to the temporary halt.

Repeated technical glitches raise concerns

While the issue was resolved within minutes, it adds to a growing list of operational disruptions on the Namma Metro network, which has faced recurring technical failures in recent years.

Between 2024 and 2026, the metro system has recorded 21 major disruptions, ranging from signal failures and power outages to ticketing system breakdowns and operational halts. The Purple Line has been the most affected corridor, reporting 11 separate incidents during this period.

Commuters have increasingly raised concerns over reliability, particularly during peak travel hours when even short delays cause overcrowding and knock-on disruptions.

Recent incidents across lines

The Purple Line and other corridors have witnessed multiple technical snags over the past three years. Earlier incidents include signal failures, power outages, and system-wide disruptions affecting ticketing and card recharge services.

Notable incidents include a complete signal failure across the Purple Line in March 2024, a metro card server crash affecting all lines in April 2025, and a system-wide ticketing failure in November 2025.

In 2026 alone, disruptions have included a driverless train derailment on the Yellow Line in January, a power supply failure at Cubbon Park station in May, and a fire incident at Nagasandra station in June. More recently, technical snags and smart card recharge failures have continued to affect daily operations.

The latest door malfunction at Cubbon Park on June 26 adds to the growing list of incidents on the Purple Line, which has seen multiple interruptions in recent weeks.

BMRCL response

BMRCL has repeatedly stated that safety remains the top priority and that all incidents are being addressed promptly through maintenance and operational checks. The agency has also urged commuters to cooperate during unexpected delays and system interventions.

However, with frequent disruptions reported across all four operational lines, commuter confidence continues to be tested as Bengaluru's rapid transit system expands and handles increasing passenger load.