Why Bengaluru Metro's Blue Line needs to be fast-tracked to ease tech capital’s traffic woes

Phased opening and delays

Marred by delays, BMRCL now plans to open Blue Line in three phases: Central Silk Board-KR Pura by September 2026, Hebbal-Airport by June 2027, KR Pura-Hebbal by December 2027.

BMRCL officials have cited multiple causes for the project missing deadlines.

The Blue Line has had to grapple with delays in court approvals for tree removal and transplantation, redesigning piers to reduce road space, shifting GAIL gas pipeline, safety concerns near a gas station, converting overhead HT lines underground between Horamavu and HBR Layout, acquiring IAF land at Yelahanka, and redesigning Hebbal for the proposed road tunnel project and its and ramps.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro: Airport line to open in two phases by 2026

Commuters frustrated

ORR has also been making headlines for the wrong reasons. A school bus had toppled after getting stuck in a ditch on Balagere-Panathur Road, students have spoken out about being stuck in traffic for hours, and social media is flooded with outrage over the poor condition of roads and pavements despite state government’s Brand Bengaluru push.

Logistics tech platform BlackBuck co-founder Rajesh Yabaji said on September 16 that he plans to leave Bengaluru’s ORR due to long commutes. “The average commute for my colleagues is more than one and a half hours one way. The roads are riddled with potholes and dust, with little intent to fix them,” he wrote on X, adding he does not expect improvements in the next five years.

Also, read: BlackBuck to move out of Bengaluru’s ORR, co-founder Rajesh Yabaji blames bad roads, traffic

Experts call for faster progress

Urban mobility expert RK Misra has called for regular progress updates from BMRCL and round-the-clock work, to expedite the construction. “ORR is Bengaluru’s economic lifeline and India’s traffic nightmare. Metro delays are often caused by coordination issues between multiple government departments, lack of transparency, and inadequate stakeholder review. BMRCL should clearly identify bottlenecks and make them public so that people can track and help resolve them. Citizens cannot afford further delays. There should be regular progress meetings, station-by-station and section-by-section updates, and better contractor management, including 24-hour work wherever feasible, to speed up completion of the Blue Line,” he said.

BMRCL Chief PR Officer BL Yashwanth Chavan told Moneycontrol, “We are working with all stakeholders to expedite the work, and progress is fairly good except in some locations where bottlenecks remain.”

Greater Bengaluru IT Companies & Industries Association’s general secretary, Krishna Kumar Gowda said the delays are impact economic growth. “Blue Line Metro is vital for Bengaluru’s connectivity. Delays affect commuters and economic growth. We are planning to push for early completion and efficient metro service for the IT sector and broader community,” he said.

Station omission

Separately, BMRCL has dropped Bettahalasur station from Blue Line. Embassy Group had agreed in 2020 to fund the Rs 140 crore station between Bagalur Cross and Trumpet Junction. Since the firm hasn't paid, the station was omitted from Phase 2B.

Also, read: Bengaluru: Real estate firm dilly-dallies over Bettahalasur Metro station on airport line

Hurdles on the ground

Following a 1-1/2-month delay and social media pressure, South Western Railway granted permission to Bengaluru Metro to erect composite girders for the Blue Line depot entry at Benniganahalli. Work began on the night of September 12 over the Bengaluru-Salem railway line and is expected to be completed in a few days.

However, many other issues still remain, said metro enthusiast Sunil HP. "For ORR Metro (Phase 2A), station barricading is causing bottlenecks. Electro-mechanical works should begin alongside architectural finishing works, Station works at Doddanekundi, ISRO, Marathahalli, Ibbalur and Silk Board stations must be expedited.”

On Phase 2B, Sunil said, “Work between Hebbal and KR Pura has picked up after delays, but split flyovers and underpasses on this section slow progress. Stations like Nagawara and Kempapura need priority, architectural finishing contracts are still pending, and civil works at Hebbal, Yelahanka, IAF stretch, and Trumpet interchange must be expedited.”

“Depot works at Byappanahalli and Shettigere should also be fast-tracked, and BEML rolling stock deliveries need follow-up, so the Line doesn’t suffer further delays,” he added.

Also Read: Why Bengaluru's tech corridor, Outer Ring Road, needs an urgent fix

Economic significance

Bengaluru’s tech corridor - stretching from KR Pura to Silk Board along the ORR - employs 9.5 lakh people across 500 companies and contributes 36 percent to the city’s annual IT revenue. The Blue Line is expected to significantly ease commuting challenges and boost productivity across the city’s IT ecosystem.