Namma Metro: The Metro in IT Capital of India developing Fast

In March 2020, Karnataka’s Chief Minister announced during the budget speech that 2 corridors will be developed as metrolite lines through the public private partnership (PPP) model

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Bangalore Metro
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Information

Bangalore (Namma) Metro is an urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with 2 lines and 51 stations serving Bengaluru, Karnataka’s capital and largest city.

Construction for Bangalore Metro Phase 1 with 42.30 km of routes started in April 2007. Its first section, connecting Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road on the Purple Line, opened up in 2011. The 6th (and final) section was inaugurated by India’s President on June 17 2017 and commercial operations started on the next day.

Construction work on the 73.921 km Bangalore Metro Phase 2‘s first new section (Mysore Road – Pattanagere, Reach-2A of Purple Line) started in September 2015. The project faced funding issues due to which a majority of civil construction contracts were awarded only in the first half of 2017. While the Green Line’s extension to Silk Institute became operational in January 2021, the entire phase, including a 13.9 km underground section of the Pink Line, is expected to be ready no sooner than 2024 after which the metro network will become 116.25 km long.

Bangalore Metro’s Phase 3 project with routes totalling 105.55 km is currently on the drawing board. From that, 18 km (Central Silk Board – KR Puram) and 38 km (KR Puram – KIAL Airport) of lines have been expedited and will be built in parallel with Phase 2 under Phase 2A and Phase 2B respectively.

Project Details

  • Top Speed : 80 kmph
  • Average Speed : 34 kmph
  • Track Gauge: Standard Gauge :1435 mm
  • Electrification : 750 V DC Third Rail
  • Signalling : Distance to Go (Purple & Green lines), CBTC (Yellow & Pink lines)
  • Operational : 55.6 km
  • Under Construction : 116.86 km
  • Approved : 0 km
  • Proposed : 105.55 km
  • Daily Ridership : 4.15 lakh/day (February 2020)
  • Rolling Stock : 342 coaches (57 train-sets x 6) supplied by BEML and 216 coaches (36 x 6) to be supplied by CRRC

Operational Lines (Phase 1, Phase 2)

  • Line-1 (Purple Line) : Baiyyappanahalli – Kengeri (25.60 km, 22 stations)
  • Line-2 (Green Line) : Nagasandra – Silk Institute (30 km, 29 stations)

Under Construction Lines (Phase 2, Phase 2A, Phase 2B)

  • Line-1 (Purple Line) : Kengeri – Challaghatta (1.314 km, 1 station)
  • Line-1 (Purple Line) : Baiyyappanahalli – Whitefield (15.257 km, 13 stations)
  • Line-2 (Green Line) : Silk Institute – Anjanapura Depot (0.50 km, 0 stations)
  • Line-2 (Green Line) : Hesaraghatta Cross (erst. Nagasandra) – Madavar (erst. BIEC) (3.031 km, 3 stations)
  • Line-3 (Yellow Line) : RV Road – Bommasandra (19.143 km, 16 stations)
  • Line-4 (Pink Line) : Gottigere (Kalena Agrahara) – Nagawara (21.386 km, 18 stations)
  • Line-5 (Blue Line) : Central  Silkboard – KR Puram (18.236 km, 13 stations, ‘ORR Line’)
  • Line-5 (Blue Line) : KR Puram – Hebbal – KIAL Terminals (37 km, 17 stations, ‘Airport Line’)

Proposed Lines Pending Approvals (Phase 3)

105.55 km of routes proposed in Phase 3 (not finalized & likely to change by the time approved)

History – Key Dates

Phase1

  • 20 Oct 2011 : Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road (Purple Line) – 6.7 km
  • 01 Mar 2014 : Sampige Road – Peenya Industry (Green Line) – 9.9 km
  • 01 May 2015 : Peenya Industry – Nagasandra (Green Line) – 2.5 km
  • 16 Nov 2015 : Mysore Road – Magadi Road (Purple Line) – 6.4 km
  • 30 Apr 2016 : MG Road – Magadi Road (Purple Line) – 4.8 km
  • 19 June 2017 : Sampige Road – Yelachenahalli (Green Line) – 12 km

Phase2

  • 15 Jan 2021 : Yelachenahalli – Silk Institute (Green Line) – 5.8 km
  • 30 Aug 2021 : Mysore Road – Kengeri (Purple Line) – 7.5 km

Details : Phase 1 

Construction work on Bangalore (Namma) Metro Phase 1 with routes totaling 42.30 km started in April 2007. Its first section, connecting Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road on the Purple Line, opened in 2011. The 6th and final section was inaugurated by the President on June 17, 2017 and commercial operations started on the next day.

Routes

This phase involved the construction of 2 new lines on standard gauge tracks:

Line-1 (Purple line) : Baiyyappanahalli – Mysore Road

  • Length : 18.10 km
  • Type : Elevated & Underground (4.8 km)
  • Depot : Baiyappanahalli
  • Number of Stations : 17
  • Station Names : Mysore Road, Deepanjali Nagar, Attiguppe, Vijayanagar, Hosahalli, Magadi Road, City Railway Station, Majestic, Sir M Vesveshwaraya, Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, MG Road, Trinity, Halasuru, Indiranagar, Swami Vivekananda Road and Baiyappanahalli

Line-2 (Green line) : Nagasandra – Yelachenahalli

  • Length : 24.20 km
  • Type : Elevated & Underground (4 km)
  • Depot : Peenya
  • Number of Stations : 24
  • Stations Names : Nagasandra, Dasarahalli, Jalahalli, Peenya Industry, Peenya, Goraguntepalya, Yeshwanthpur, Sandal Soap Factory, Mahalaxmi, Rajajinagar, Kuvempu Road, Srirampura, Sampige Road, Majestic, Chickpet, KR Market, National College, Lalbagh, Southend Circle, Jayanagar, Yelachenahalli (formerly Puttenahalli)

History (Key Dates – Phase 1)

  • 20 Oct 2011: Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road (Purple Line) – 6.7 km
  • 01 Mar 2014: Sampige Road – Peenya Industry (Green Line) – 9.9 km
  • 01 May 2015: Peenya Industry – Nagasandra (Green Line) – 2.5 km
  • 16 Nov 2015: Mysore Road – Magadi Road (Purple Line) – 6.4 km
  • 29 Apr 2016: MG Road – Magadi Road (Purple Line) – 4.8 km
  • 19 June 2017: Sampige Road – Yelachenahalli (Green Line) – 12 km

Details : Phase 2 

Bangalore (Namma) Metro Phase 2 project with 73.921 km of new routes was approved by Karnataka’s state government’s in 2011 and by India’s Central Government in 2014. Construction work on Phase 2’s first new section (Mysore Road – Pattanagere, Reach-2A of Purple Line) commenced in September 2015. Out of the 73.921 km length of new track, 13.885 km will be underground while the rest will be built elevated.

The project faced funding issues due to which a majority of civil construction contracts were awarded only in the first half of 2017. While the Purple Line’s extension to Challeghata & Green Line’s extension to Anjanapura Township will be ready in 2020-21, the entire phase, including a 13.885 km underground section, is expected to be ready in sections, only in 2026. Once Phase 2 is operational, the network’s total length will become 116.19 km. Major lenders providing official development assistance (ODA) loans for this phase’s construction and procurement of systems are European Investment Bank (EIB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and possibly Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This phase involves the construction of 2 new lines on standard gauge tracks & the extension of both lines built in Phase 1 in all 4 directions.

New Lines

Official line colours were announced in November 2019

Line-3 (Yellow Line) : RV Road – Bommasandra

  • Length : 19.143 km
  • Type : Elevated
  • Depot : Hebbagodi Depot (39.3 acres)
  • Number of Stations : 16
  • Station Names : Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road (RV Road), Ragigudda, Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout, Central Silkboard, Bommanahalli (formerly HSR Layout), Hongasandra (formerly Oxford College), Kudlu Gate (formerly Muneshwara Nagar), Singasandra (formerly Chikkabegur), Hosa Road (formerly Basapura Road), Beratena Agrahara (formerly Hosa Road), Electronic City, Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara (formerly Electronic City – II), Huskur Road, Hebbagodi and Bommasandra

Line-4 (Pink Line) : Kalena Agaraha (formerly Gottigere) – Nagawara

  • Length : 21.386 km
  • Type : Elevated (7.501 km) and Underground (13.885 km)
  • Depot : Kothanur Depot (31.5 acres)
  • Number of Stations : 18
  • Station Names : Kalena Agrahara (formerly Gottigere), Hulimavu, IIM-Bangalore, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital, Swagath Road Cross, Dairy Circle, Lakkasandra (foremerly Mico Industries), Langford Town, Rashtriya Military School (formerly Vellara Road), MG Road, Shivaji Nagar, Cantonment, Pottery Town, Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Kadugundanahalli (formerly Arabic College) and Nagawara

Phase 2 (Line Extensions)

Line-1 (Purple Line) : Mysore Road – Challaghatta

  • Length : 8.814 km
  • Type : Elevated
  • New Depot : Challagatta Depot (38.9 acre; for entire line)
  • Number of Stations : 7
  • Station Names : Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnana Bharathi (formerly Bangalore University Cross), Pattanagere, Kengeri Bus Terminal (formerly Mailasandra), Kengeri and Challeghatta
  • Status : 7.5 km Mysore Road – Kengeri section inaugurated on August 30, 2021

Line-1 (Purple Line) : Baiyyappanahalli – Whitefield

Length : 15.257 km

Type : Elevated

New Depot : Kadugodi Depot in Whitefield (44.8 acres; for entire line)
Number of Stations : 13

Station Names : Benniganahalli (formerly Jyothipuram / Tin Factory), KR Puram, Saraswati Nagar (formerly Mahadevapura), Gurudacharpalya, Hoodi Junction (erst. Doddanekundi), Sitharama Palya (formerly Visvesvaraya Industrial Area), Kundalahalli, Nallurhalli (formerly Vydehi Hospital), Sadarmangla (formerly Satya Sai Hospital), Pattandur Agrahara (formerly. ITPL), Kadugodi, Channasandra (formerly Ujjval Vidyalaya) and Whitefield

Line-2 (Green Line) : Yelachenahalli (Puttenahalli) – Silk Institute (Anjanapura)

Length : 6.29 km

Type : Elevated

New Depot : Anjanapura Depot (8.9 acre; for entire line)

Number of Stations : 5

Station Names : Doddakallasandra (formerly Krishna Leela Park) , Konankunte Cross (formerly Anjanapura Cross Road) , Vajrahalli, Thalgattapura and Silk Institute (formerly Anjanapura Township & Anjanapura)

Status : Inaugurated on January 14, 2021

Line-2 (Green Line):  Hesaraghatta Cross (formerly Nagasandra) – Madavar (formerly BIEC)

Length : 3.031 km

Type : Elevated

Number of Stations : 3

Station Names : Manjunathanagar, Chikkabidarakallu (formerly Jindal) and Madavar (formerly BIEC)

Details : Phase 2A

Bangalore (Namma) Metro’s Phase 2A project with one new 18.236 km elevated line, connecting KR Puram with Central Silkboard along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), was first announced at the Invest Karnataka Summit in February 2016 and is planned to be constructed along with the 73.92 km Phase 2 project. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. invited bids for geotechnical investigation and DGPS, topographic, land & property surveys in June 2016. The line’s Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by BMRCL’s in-house team, was revealed in November 2016 and estimates the line’s construction & system procurement to cost Rs 4202 crores.

The Karnataka government’s cabinet approved the project’s DPR in March 2017. Back then, instead of relying on foreign lenders, the BMRCL had planned to fund this line through what it called an “innovative financing model” in which private entities would have been engaged to pitch in anywhere from 25% to 50% of the line’s construction cost (Rs. 1100-2100 crores) and in return be granted exclusive advertising and leasing rights within the stations to monetize on their investment. By February 2018, BMRCL had only signed only 2 MoUs worth approximately Rs 100 crore each.

In 2018-2019, the BMRCL invited bids for the line’s construction in 3 packages. During that time, BMRCL was unable to achieve financial closure and the lowest bidder for all 3 packages, IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company Limited, was hit by financial troubles. In December 2019, BMRCL re-invited tenders for its construction. Technical bids were opened in March 2020 to reveal 9 bidders, and financial bids were opened in October to reveal Afcons Infrastructure and Shankarnarayana Construction as the lowest bidders. Construction contracts were awarded in May 2021.

In April 2021, Phase 2A was approved by the Central Government’s cabinet. Phase 2A and Phase 2B (KR Puram – Yelahanka – Bangalore Airport) will be funded through a $500 million loan by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was approved by its board in December 2020. In addition, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide a $318 million loan as well. A formal agreement for it was signed in March 2021.

Funding (Phase 2a)

Estimated Cost : Rs. 5,227.35 crore

ADB : Rs. 1,479.46 crore

JICA : Rs. 893 crore (preliminary negotiation)

PPP Sources : Rs. 600 crore

State Govt : Rs. 1,690.46 crore

Central Govt : Rs. 734.22 crore

Route Information

Line-5 (Blue Line) : KR Puram – Central  Silkboard

  • Length : 18.236 km
  • Type : Elevated
  • Number of Stations : 13
  • Station Names : KR Puram (interchange with the under construction Purple Line), Mahadevpura, DRDO Sports Complex, Doddanakundi, ISRO, Marathahalli, Kodibisanahalli, Kadubeesanahalli, Bellandur, Ibbalur, Agara Lake, HSR Layout, Silk Board (interchange with the upcoming Yellow Line).
  • Depot : Trains on the ORR line will be stabled and & maintained at the existing Baiyappanahalli  Depot. Some of the Purple Line’s existing stabling lines will be re-purposed for this line and due to that, a new depot for the Purple Line will be built at Kadugodi near Hope Farm Junction (view suggested layout) where government land is available. At a later stage, the Baiyappanahalli Depot will exclusively be used by this new line’s trains while the Purple Line’s trains will be stabled & maintained at Kadugodi Depot and Challaghatta Depot.
  • Rolling Stock : BMRCL plans to initially procure 120 coaches (20 train-sets x 6 coaches), and operate them in a DMC-TC-MC+MC-TC-DMC formation from the get-go.

Details : Phase 2B 

37 km Bangalore (Namma) Metro Phase 2B project is an under construction “airport-link” section of Blue Line from Bengaluru city to Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) in Devanahalli with 17 stations.

A metro line to the airport has been on the drawing board since 2005 when construction commenced on the city’s airport. It was first envisioned as a high-speed rail link connecting the city’s CBD (MG Road) to be executed by a special purpose vehicle independent of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.

In October 2015, RITES suggested 2 routes to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL). In September 2016, BMRCL sought suggestions from the public on 9 routes; they went on to finalize 4 routes in late-April 2017. In May 2017, they picked the route extending Line-4 via Nagawara, RK Hegde Nagar, Jakkur & Yelahanka. In January 2019, the Karnataka Government announced the approval of the line’s 37 km route with 17 stations as an extension of Line-5 (ORR Line) via KR Puram, Nagawara, Hebbal & Yelahanka.

Phase 2A and Phase 2B (KR Puram – Yelahanka – Bangalore Airport) will be funded through a $500 million loan by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was approved by its board in December 2020. In addition, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide a $318 million loan as well. A formal agreement for it was signed in March 2021.

In April 2021, Phase 2B was approved by the Central Government’s cabinet. BMRCL has not published Phase 2B’s DPR (Detailed Project Report) online.

Funding (Phase 2B)

  • Estimated Cost : 9,616.51 crore
  • ADB : Rs. 2,410.79 crore
  • JICA : Rs. 1,310.74 crore
  • PPP Sources : Rs. 800 crore
  • State Govt : Rs. 4,074.34 crore
  • Central Govt : Rs. 1,260.54 crore

Bids for Phase 2B’s construction work, through 3 civil packages, were invited in July 2019. Construction work is expected to start in Q4 2021.

Route Information

Line-5 (Blue Line) : KR Puram – Hebbal – KIAL Terminals

  • Length : 37 km
  • Type : Elevated, At-Grade and Underground (within the airport)
  • Depot : Shettigere Depot (in addition to Phase 2A’s Baiyappanahalli Depot)
  • Number of Stations : 17
  • Station Names : Kasturinagara, Horamavu, HRBR Layout (erst. Babusaheb Palya), Kalyan Nagar, HBR layout, Nagawara, Veerannapalya, Kempapura, Hebbal, Kodigehalli, Jakkur Cross, Yelahanka (erst. Kogilu Cross), Bagalur Cross (erst. Bagalur/PRR Cross), Bettahalasuru, Doddajala (erst. Trumpet Junction), Airport City (erst. Sky Garden, to be built at-grade) and KIAL Terminals (erst. Airport Terminal, to be built partially underground)

Details : Phase 3 

Bangalore (Namma) Metro’s Phase 3 project is currently in the planning stage with routes totaling 105.55 km being explored since 2015. Pre-feasibility and techno-economic feasibility studies by RITES and BMRCL were prepared in 2016. Karnataka’s state government approved the preparation of the project’s detailed project report (DPR) in February 2018 and the work for it was assigned to RITES in July 2020. The first draft is expected to get ready by mid-2023. Construction on Phase 3 is expected to begin in 2025 and end in the mid 2030s. By the time construction begins, multiple changes in the project’s scope & alignment can be expected to take place.

Estimated Cost : N/A (Pending Route Finalization & Approval)

Phase 3 Deadline : Not Finalized (Pending Route Finalization & Approval)

New Lines

  • Carmelaram – Yelahanka (37 km, shown in Brown) – DPR bids invited April 2022
  • Marathahalli – Hosakerehalli (21 km, shown in Red)
  • Silkboard – KR Puram – Hebbal (29 km, shown in Blue)

The 18 km Silkboard – KR Puram section has been fast-tracked and allocated to Phase 2A. In March 2017, the Karnataka Government’s cabinet approved its DPR. Official line colors are yet to be announced.

Extensions of Existing Lines

  • Nagavara – Airport (23 km)

In May 2017, the airport line’s route was finalized via RK Hegde Nagar – Jakkur – Yelahanka. In 2018, it was decided to be developed under Phase 2B as an extension of the Silkboard – KR Puram line instead.

In addition, here are some other potential lines on the drawing board –

  • JP Nagar to K R Puram via Hebbal
  • Magadi Road Toll Gate to Kadabagere
  • Gottigere to Basavapura
  • RK Hegde Nagar to Aerospace Park
  • Kogilu Cross to Rajanukunte
  • Bommasandra to Attibele
  • Iblur to Carmelaram

In March 2020, Karnataka’s Chief Minister announced during the budget speech that 2 corridors will be developed as metrolite lines through the public private partnership (PPP) model and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for both will be prepared. These 2 corridors are:

  • ORR West Line: Hebbal to Mysore Road Metro Station (30 km)
  • Magadi Road Toll Gate to Kadabagere (14 km)

Conclusions

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture of Government of India and Government of Karnataka, is a Special Purpose Vehicle entrusted with the responsibility of implementation and operation of Bangalore Metro Rail Project.

Bangalore Metro, christened as “Namma Metro”, not only adds to the beauty of Bangalore city skyline, but more importantly provides a safe, quick, reliable and comfortable public transport system. Besides this, Namma Metro is a major environment friendly addition to the Bangalore City as it significantly contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions.

Metro services have been in operation on 56 KM on East-West corridor – 25.6 km long, starting from Baiyappanahalli in the East and terminating at Kengeri Terminal in the West and on 30.4 km North-South corridor commencing at Nagasandra in the North and terminating at Silk Institute in the South. This is the First Metro rail project in India commissioned with 750V DC Third Rail Traction on Standard Gauge. Bangalore Metro is developing fast and expected to help in decongesting the city traffic significantly. The city is popularly called the IT capital of India and is amongst one of the fastest growing cities of the world.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Dear Sir,
    The Metro parking charge is too high; we spend 30Rs per day and a minimum of 810Rs per month; how is this charge possible, middle-class man? Nobody cares.

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