Residents of Bilekahalli in south Bengaluru have increased their demand to rename the upcoming IIMB Metro Station on the Pink Line by including the locality’s name. If the city’s residents in Bilekahalli threaten to demonstrate, there could be protests and a road blockade if the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) does not respond to their call for its name.
The IIMB Metro Station is located on the Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara section of Namma Metro’s Pink Line near Bannerghatta Road and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). The station is located in the Bilekahalli area, which has led residents to demand recognition of the locality in its official name. Recently, reports have confirmed that Bilekahalli residents have been demanding that the station be named “Bilekahalli-IIMB” or “IIMB-Bilekahalli.”
Residents Outside Metro Station
Residents of Bilekahalli recently gathered near the proposed IIMB Metro Station to express their opposition to the current naming. They felt that the station should be based on the popular institution situated next to it and the locality where it is located.
The residents think that keeping only the IIMB name would ignore Bilekahalli’s local identity. So they have asked the BMRCL to add the name Bilekahalli to the station’s name.
The naming issue is not new. Residents had earlier approached the metro authorities to recognize Bilekahalli in the station name. BMRCL retained "IIMB" as the station name.
Bannerghatta Road Blockade Warning
Local leaders are concerned that if they don’t get their demands met, the agitation will go on. They have also threatened to organise a larger protest of thousands of Bilekahalli residents and even a blockade of Bannerghatta Road.
The protesters have also threatened to lay siege to the BMRCL headquarters if the station name is not changed to include Bilekahalli.
The demands are coming as Bengaluru gears up for the opening of the Pink Line, which is expected to greatly enhance connectivity between south and north Bengaluru. The naming dispute has therefore come at the same time as more general concerns about accessibility and last-mile connectivity around several stations along the corridor.
Political Leaders Write to BMRCL
The demand has also received attention from political representatives. As per our latest report, KPCC president B K Hariprasad and Bengaluru Urban Development Minister Krishnabhairé Gowda wrote to BMRCL Managing Director regarding the request to change the station’s name.
Earlier, BTM MLA and Karnataka Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy had also written to the authorities seeking changes to the names of three Pink Line stations.
Anekal MLA B Shivanna had asked Minister Krishnabhairé Gowda to reconsider the name of IIMB Metro Station. The minister wrote to the BMRCL Managing Director to investigate the matter.
Why Bilekahalli Residents Want the Name Included
Bilekahalli residents have argued that the area has its own well-established identity and that the metro station should reflect the locality along with the nearby institution.
The IIM Bangalore campus itself is located on Bannerghatta Road in Bilekahalli, and “IIMB” is a recognizable place for commuters. At the same time, reports have mentioned that residents would like to see the locality’s name included and not have the railway station identified exclusively by the institution.
The proposed naming would allow both identities to be visible and could help commuters identify the station through the well-known IIMB landmark while also recognizing Bilekahalli.
Pink Line Naming Debate
The naming controversy around the IIMB station comes at a time when a number of aspects of the Pink Line in Bengaluru are getting public attention. Pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity on the corridor (the parts around IIMB and JP Nagar) have also been a concern in the past few months.
The demand to have Bilekahalli named as part of the station's official name is still under discussion. The next steps for BMRCL after the latest representations from political representatives and residents will determine whether the naming issue moves forward or not.
The residents, however, are prepared to escalate their protest if their demand is not met.
