He was speaking after virtually dedicating the two segments of Bangalore Metro's east-west route to the nation, beginning in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, where he addressed a rally after inaugurating the 17-kilometer priority part of the country's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.

"The two lines of the Bengaluru Metro Rail will improve connectivity. It is expected that eight lakh people travel every day. I congratulate the people of Karnataka at the launch of the Metro rail line," the prime minister said.

The Bangalore Metro Purple Line segments from Baiyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura and Kengeri to Challaghatta opened to the public on October 9 without a ceremonial inauguration. The total operational length of the 'Namma Metro' has expanded to 74 km with 66 stations, and daily traffic has surpassed 7.5 lakh. Namma Metro, which opened 12 years ago, is the country's second largest Metro network. The Purple Line, which runs from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta, now has a total length of 43.49 kilometers and 37 stations.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked on the occasion that the state government has approved the 317 km long Metro rail network by 2031 in its Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), of which the 217 km long route is under operation, building, or planned. The chief minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, stated that

Bengaluru is a rapidly growing metropolis with a significant traffic problem. In light of this, he continued, the extension of Metro rail services was critical.