Bengaluru's much-awaited Airport Metro (Blue Line) will open in two phases.
Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Managing Director (MD) M Maheshwar Rao told Moneycontrol that Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal–Hebbal section would open first between June and September 2026 and to be followed by the Hebbal–KR Pura section within a few months in December.
"Work is progressing fast between KIA and Hebbal, as compared to the remaining section (Hebbal – KR Pura) of the Blue Line. We have decided to open it first rather than wait for the completion of the entire 38-kilometre [km] corridor," he said.
The decision is expected to help airport-bound passengers reach Hebbal faster. Then, they can switch to the airport Metro line and will no longer need to pay additional toll tax for road travel. However, there is still no clarity on the proposed multi-modal hub at Hebbal on the 45-acre Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) land, which was earlier acquired for a tourism project.
Rao said an open web girder (OWG) will cross over the Indian Railways track near Jakkur, similar to the one at Byappanahalli that was launched last year. "The contractor is working on fabricating the girder, and it will be brought to the city in parts," said Rao. The work near Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Yelahanka is progressing slower than expected due to time restrictions imposed on construction activities.
On the status of Bettahalasur Metro station, Rao said discussions are still in progress with Embassy Group, which had signed an agreement with the BMRCL in 2020 to fund the station’s construction at an estimated cost of Rs 140 crore.
Also, read: Bengaluru: Real estate firm dilly-dallies over Bettahalasur Metro station on airport line
The civil work on the Hebbal-KR Pura stretch was halted for nearly six months after an accident on the construction site claimed two lives. On January 10, 2023, a woman and her toddler son were killed when a reinforcement structure made of iron rods, intended for the construction of an 18-metre-tall Metro pillar at HBR Layout, collapsed on them.
A Metro rail enthusiast said, "Hebbal-KR Pura section lags behind in progress due to several factors. This package is complicated by three split flyovers at Kalyan Nagar, Veeranna Palya, and Nagawara, as well as one split underpass at Hennur. Station work has not advanced much. Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation line is an obstruction at a few locations near the HRBR Layout and Horamavu stations. These issues are yet to be resolved."
He said that the BMRCL is yet to invite tenders for the station architectural finishing works after the previous one was cancelled. “Civil work is also progressing slowly at Chikkajala and near the IAF station in Yelahanka”.
Also, read: Bengaluru Airport City breaks ground for 2 million sq ft business park, targets Global Capability Centres
Luggage racks for airport Metro trains
Sources said that the BEML is expected to deliver the trainsets from December 2025. "Four of the six coaches in each Blue Line train will be equipped with luggage racks. The two seats will be removed and replaced with luggage racks. However, the two driver’s cabins [driver-trailer car] will not have this feature," official said.
The driverless Blue Line trains will include features, such as specially designed luggage racks, liquid-crystal display (LCD)-based dynamic route map displays, and enhanced safety systems. These systems will include advanced fire safety, obstacle and derailment detection, passenger alarm devices (PAD), and communications-based train control (CBTC)-based signalling.
Also, read: BEML receives Rs 3,177 crore rolling stock order from Bengaluru Metro
In August, BEML Ltd. inaugurated the prototype manufacturing of driverless Metro train sets for the BMRCL. The BEML had received an order for 53 trainsets in August 2023, valued at Rs 3,177 crore. This order includes the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the trainsets, along with comprehensive maintenance services for up to 15 years under the BMRP Phase 2, 2A, and 2B projects. The allocation of coaches is as follows: 126 coaches for Phase 2B (Blue Line: 38-km KR Pura to KIA), 96 coaches for the Blue Line (18.2- km Central Silk Board to KR Pura), and 96 coaches for the Pink Line (21.3-km Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara).
Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line to be operational in two phases
Status of other Metro corridors
Rao said that the entire Outer Ring Road Metro corridor, linking Central Silk Board to KR Pura, is expected to be completed by June 2026. The Pink Line, which connects Kalena Agrahara (Gottigere) on Bannerghatta Road to Nagawara via Dairy Circle, will also open in phases. The 7.5-km elevated stretch from Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere (Swagath Cross) is expected to be operational by December, 2025. The 13.8-km underground section from Dairy Circle to Nagawara will be ready by December, 2026. The Yellow Line, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra, is likely to be opened by the first quarter of next year.
Also, read: India's most congested city, Bengaluru, faces train set supply crisis
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