Liquor Bottles Inside Namma Metro? BMRCL Weighs Rule Change Ahead Of Airport Line

A possible change to what passengers can carry on Namma Metro may be on the horizon, with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) indicating that it is open to permitting sealed liquor bottles on trains once the airport line becomes operational.

The proposal has received in-principle backing within the organisation and has surfaced repeatedly in internal discussions, most recently during a review meeting, The New Indian Express reported. Officials are examining whether the current restriction - which treats alcohol as a flammable item - needs to continue once direct metro access to Kempegowda International Airport is in place.

As things stand, Namma Metro prohibits 58 items grouped under categories such as explosives, firearms, sharp tools, hazardous chemicals and inflammable materials. Alcohol is included in this last category, which means even sealed bottles are not allowed to be carried inside the system at present.

Metro authorities are now considering aligning their approach with practices followed elsewhere. One option under discussion is adopting a framework similar to the Delhi Metro's airport line, where passengers are allowed to carry liquor under defined conditions.

Officials involved in the deliberations say the absence of a specific operational concern behind the ban has prompted renewed examination. Many passengers, they noted, have over the years questioned why sealed bottles should be disallowed when they are simply being transported as personal luggage, especially since food and beverages are already barred from being consumed within coaches.

There have also been instances where security staff have exercised discretion and allowed passengers to carry bottles through screening points at certain stations, highlighting inconsistencies in enforcement.

BMRCL Director (RES and O&M) Sumit Bhatnagar said discussions are still underway and no final policy has been approved so far. If the proposal progresses, the revised norms would be incorporated into metro regulations, eliminating the need for passengers to apply for any special permissions.

A clearer decision is expected closer to the completion of the long-awaited airport metro link, which is projected to be operational in the coming two years.