Bengaluru: BMRCL to prepare feasibility report for 118 km extension to outskirts, floats tender

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on February 23 floated bids for consultancy services for the preparation of a feasibility study report for the extension of Metro rail corridors to outskirts in two packages

Karnataka government appears to be prioritising extension of the Metro rail to the outskirts to stimulate the real estate sector, despite demands from citizens' groups to concentrate on the city limits.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on February 23 floated bids for consultancy services for the preparation of a feasibility study report for the extension of Metro rail corridors to outskirts in two packages.

The first package of a length of 50 km will have three corridors: Challaghatta - Bidadi, Silk Institute - Harohalli, and Bommasandra - Attibele. Another package will be a 60 km corridor - Kalene Agrahara (Gottigere) - Jigani- Anekal-Attibele- Sarjapur-Varthur -Kadugodi Tree Park.

At present, Challaghatta – Whitefield (Purple Line) and Silk Institute - Nagasandra (Green Line) are operational, and under-construction lines are:  Yellow Line (RV Road - Bommasandra), Pink Blue (Kalena Agrahara – Nagawara), and Blue Line (Central Silk Board - KR Puram-Kempegowda International Airport).

Also, read: MC Interview: Completing Metro rail work on Bengaluru's tech corridor Outer Ring Road top priority, says BMRCL MD

The feasibility study will assess key factors, including the type of trains (Normal Metro/Metrolite/Metro Neo), estimated ridership, alignment, station locations, and construction costs. However, the lines where BMRCL called for a feasibility study are not part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), which was prepared by the state government in 2020, proposing to increase the Metro network in Bengaluru to 317 km.

The corridors suggested in the CMP are: JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura stretch along ORR West, Hosahalli-Kadabagere line along Magadi Road, Whitefield – Domlur Line, Katamnallur Gate – Sarjapur Road – Hebbal, and Inner Ring Metro.

While the Union government is likely to approve two Phase 3 corridors: Magadi Road and ORR West before Lok Sabha polls, BMRCL is scrutinising the DPR for Sarjapur Road. However, there is no progress on other corridors. The Union government is unlikely to approve corridors that are not part of the CMP.

Also, read: Union govt likely to approve two Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 corridors before Lok Sabha polls

Duplication of Metro line

While Bommasandra – Attibele is part of the BMRCL’s feasibility study, Chennai Metro Rail Limited is also preparing a report from Bommasandra in Bengaluru to Hosur in Tamil Nadu via Attibele. Balaji Railroad Systems (BARSYL)– Habog Consultants JV is preparing the study for South India's first interstate Metro rail system, and is expected to submit the report in a few months. The proposed Bommasandra-Hosur Metro corridor spans 20.5 km, with 11.7 km in Karnataka and the remaining 8.8 km in Tamil Nadu.

Also, read:  DK Shivakumar proposes Metro to Bidadi; BARSYL-Habog to prepare feasibility report for Hosur Metro

Two Metro corridors in the state budget

Separately, the state government announced the expansion of Metro rail to Tumakuru and Devanahalli in the 2024-2025 Karnataka state budget. "The feasibility report for extending the Metro rail from Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) to Tumakuru and Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) to Devanahalli on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis will be prepared," Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in his budget speech.

Also, read: Karnataka budget: Bengaluru Metro to extend to Tumakuru and Devanahalli; tunnel road in Hebbal announced

While the 3 km Nagasandra-BIEC (Green Line) Metro section is expected to become operational in a few months, the extension to Tumakuru (around 50 km) is now under consideration. Similarly, Blue Line is likely to be extended from Kempegowda International Airport to Devanahalli.