Karnataka CM announces 37-km new metro corridor to connect Hebbal to Sarjapur

Bengaluru, India (Urban Transport News): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in his state budget speech on March 4, 2022 announced a new metro line from Sarjapur to Hebbal under Phase 3 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project. The estimated project cost for the 37-km line which will run via Agara, Koramangala and Dairy Circle is Rs 15,000 crore. 

“Action will be taken to prepare a detailed project report in 2022-23. The line had never come up for serious discussion in the last five years. The state Budget also makes a mention of Namma Metro’s Phase III project estimated to cost Rs 11,250 crore. This covers 32-km of outer ring road from Hebbal to JP Nagar and a separate 13 km line along Magadi Road," said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

"The proposed metro line would cover many areas in the Central Business District as well. “Around 16.80 km from Koramangala to Hebbal will be underground,” said Anjum Parwez, Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited adding that it will cover several important locations such as Bellandur, Agara, St John’s Hospital, NIMHANS, Central College, Cunningham Road, Mekhri Circle and others.

The proposed line will conenct Hebbal to Sarjapur with 29 metro stations at Hebbal, Veterinary College, Gangenahalli, Mekri Circle, Palace, Guttahalli, Cunningham Road, Basaveshwara Circle, Central College, Town Hall, Wilson Garden, Nimhans, Dairy Circle, Sudduguntepalya Koraman, St.Johns Hospital, Gala, Jakkasandra, Agara, Ibbalur, Bellandur Gate, Kaikondrahalli, Doddakanalli Gate,Carmelaram, Ambedkar Nagar, Kodati, Sulikunte, Muthanallur Cross, Dommasandra Circle, Sompura and Sarjapur.

The state government has announced that the detailed project report (DPR) for Phase 3 of Bangalore Metro will be submitted to the Central government for approval. Two new lines have been proposed under Phase 3: one that will connect J.P. Nagar to Hebbal covering a distance of 13 km, and the other from Hosahalli to Kadabagere. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 11,250 crore.

On the status of ongoing metro projects (under Phase 2 and Phase 2A & Phase 2B), the budget stated that by the next financial year, 33 km of under construction metro line will be operationalised. “BMRCL is contemplating opening a stretch on the Yellow line from Bommasandra to the Central Silk Board by the next financial year. For this, a depot near Electronic City will be made operational,” said Parwez. He said that other stretches that are slated to be made operational during the same period are Baiyappanahalli–Whitefield on the Purple line and Nagasandra to Madavara on Tumakuru Road. 

“The R.V. Road to Central Silk Board stretch, which is part of Yellow Line, will be opened at a later stage as the metro-cum-rail flyover work will take more time to complete,” he added.  

Chief Minister said that the 58-km metro line from Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will be completed by March 2025.

The budget also stated that the 148-km suburban metro line in the city will be completed by 2026. In his speech, the Chief Minister said that civil works from Baiyappanahalli to Chikkabanavara will commence soon. Rail Infrastructure Development Company(Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), the implementing agency, has already floated the tenders for this corridor.