Bengaluru (Metro Rail News): According to recent announcements by the Karnataka government, the city’s Metro Rail network is set to expand by 40.15 kilometres in the current financial year. The BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai has announced a sum of Rs 2500 crore in the latest state budget towards the ongoing projects of Namma Metro for the fiscal year 2023-2024. As per the chief minister’s statement to the Assembly, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is set to launch over 40 km of the new Metro route during this period.
Currently, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Scheme is operational in a network spanning 56 kilometres. Work on the Metro rail scheme that will connect Central Silk Board Junction to Kempegowda International Airport, spanning 58.19 kilometres and featuring 30 stations, is progressing rapidly. As per the budget document, plans are underway to launch a new Metro route covering a length of 40.15 kilometres in the current year. BMRCL has stated that the Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield line, Kengeri to Challaghatta, RV Road to Bommasandra, and Nagasandra to BIEC sections are scheduled to be inaugurated this year.
The KR Puram to Whitefield line is in the final stages of trial runs and is anticipated to be open to the public by the end of March. Additionally, the Purple Line extension from Kengeri to Challaghatta, which has been pending for a long time, is expected to be operational by mid-2023.
Another significant stretch of the Bangalore Metro Rail Scheme’s phase II is the line running from RV Road station to Bommasandra via Jayadeva, Central Silk Board, and Electronics City. Moreover, the Metro route to BIEC is on the verge of completion.
As per the previous budget, the third phase of the Metro network project has been proposed, with a Detailed Project Report submitted to the Central Government for two corridors spanning a total length of 44.65 km and featuring 31 stations. The expected cost for this project is Rs.16,328 crore. The budget document indicates that work on the project will commence once it receives approval from the Government of India.
