Which city became the second city in India and the first city in South India to have a full fledged Metro rail network?

Introduction / Context:
Metro rail networks are important symbols of urban infrastructure development in India. New metro projects are frequently in the news, and exam questions often ask which city achieved a particular milestone first. This question focuses on the city that became the second city in India, and the first in South India, to have a full fledged metro rail network in operation. Knowing such milestones helps in general awareness, especially for exams related to banking, railways, and state services.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to a full fledged metro rail network, not a partial or trial run. - It specifies that this was the second city in India and the first city in South India to reach that stage. - Options are Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala, and Hyderabad.

Concept / Approach:
Delhi is widely recognized as the first Indian city with a large, full scale metro system. Among South Indian cities, Bangalore (Bengaluru) has also been an early adopter with Namma Metro. The phrase “full fledged metro rail” refers to a network with multiple operational lines, not just an initial small segment. Bangalore reached this milestone before Chennai and Hyderabad had expanded fully. Also, Kerala is not a city, so that option is conceptually incorrect, which helps in elimination.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that Delhi is the first Indian city with a full scale metro, so the question is about the second city. Step 2: Look at the options and note that Kerala is a state, not a city, so it cannot be the answer. Step 3: Compare the timelines for Metro development in Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and recall that Bangalore's Namma Metro achieved full fledged multi line operations earlier than the others. Step 4: Therefore, Bangalore fits both parts of the description, being a South Indian city and reaching the full network milestone earlier than the other options. Step 5: Mark Bangalore as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
News reports and official Metro rail corporation releases describe Namma Metro in Bangalore as becoming a complete network, with both phases of its east west and north south corridors reaching full operations. These reports often highlight Bangalore as the first South Indian city with such a comprehensive metro system, following Delhi at the national level.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Chennai: While Chennai Metro is significant, its full network took longer to develop and was not the second after Delhi in the sense described in the question. - Kerala: This is a state, not a city, so it cannot fit the phrase “second city in the country.” - Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro became operational later and did not claim the specific milestone mentioned in this question at that time.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up the order of metro launches and expansions. Another frequent mistake is to select Hyderabad simply because its metro inauguration was widely covered in the media. Careful reading of the phrase “second city in the country and first in South India” and the distinction between a partial line and a full fledged network helps avoid errors.

Final Answer:
The city that became the second city in India and the first city in South India to have a full fledged Metro rail network is Bangalore (Bengaluru).