Bengaluru Metro, often under fire for its sluggish pace of construction, is preparing to float tenders for civil work for its long-pending Phase 3, more than a year after getting the Centre’s approval.
Phase 3, or the Orange Line, comprises two corridors — JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura stretch along ORR West (32.1 km) and Hosahalli–Kadabagere line along Magadi Road (12.5 km) — together spanning 44.6 km.
“We are planning to invite civil work tenders by the end of this month or the first week of November,” a senior BMRCL official told Moneycontrol.
Moneycontrol wrote that the Phase 3 was facing delays due to the state’s insistence on integrating flyovers.
Also read: Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 in limbo, no civil work tenders eight months after Centre’s approval
The union cabinet approved the Rs 15,611-crore project in August 2024, nearly two years after the Karnataka government cleared it in November 2022.
It was to get operational by 2029 but officials admit that the year-long delay in tendering will likely push the deadline further and lead to cost escalation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the stone for the project on August 10, 2025.
According to sources, BMRCL plans to float the project in nine–10 tender packages, covering viaduct, station, track and depot works. “Since the double-decker structure is involved, we’ll split the tenders accordingly,” he said. Tender is likely to be finalised in two-three months.
JICA funding
The project will be largely funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). “The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) have been finalised and accepted by JICA. BMRCL can float JICA-funded tender packages from December 2025 onwards,” an official said.
Loan agreements between JICA and the Indian government are expected to be signed by March 2026. JICA’s funding will also cover trainsets for the new corridors.
Also read: With Union Cabinet approval for 2 corridors, Bengaluru’s Metro network to expand to 220 km by 2029
Double-decker flyovers
Delays in tendering were mainly due to the state government’s push to incorporate double-decker flyovers — a pet project of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who also is holds the Bengaluru city development portfolio.
The state cabinet in September approved a 37.12-km double-decker structure, including a 28.4-km flyover from JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura and an 8.6-km section from Hosahalli to Kadabagere along Magadi Road, at an estimated cost of Rs 9,700 crore.
“The state government will fund the double-decker component, which will cost around Rs 9,700 crore. Of this, 50 percent will be borne by the state government, 10 percent by Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the remaining 40 percent through loans”.
Cost escalation expected
Officials estimate that project costs have already gone up by at least 5 percent. Bengaluru Metro’s Phase 1 (42 km) cost rose from Rs 6,395 crore in 2005 to Rs 14,133 crore, while Phase 2 (72 km) ballooned from Rs 26,405 crore in 2014 to Rs 40,614 crore by 2024.
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