Hebbal metro lines to open in 2027 as minister sets new deadlines

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has announced updated timelines for the city's metro expansion, including key deadlines for lines connecting Hebbal. Speaking after reviewing ongoing projects, Gowda stated that the 26-km airport Metro corridor running from Hebbal to Kempegowda International Airport is expected to be operational by mid-2027, while the connecting KR Pura-Hebbal section is likely to open by December 2027.

The minister also announced that the trial run for the long-awaited Blue Line, a 19-km stretch along the Outer Ring Road from KR Pura to Silk Board, is scheduled to begin in October. Gowda noted that while this Phase 2A project has reached an advanced stage of construction, civil work continues to lag at Marathahalli, Iblur, and Silk Board. Consequently, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is considering starting oscillation trials on the KR Pura-Marathahalli section first.

Once the October trials commence, BMRCL estimates it will take five to six months to secure the required statutory clearances for commercial operations. BMRCL has already begun receiving trainsets for the Blue Line from BEML.

For the Pink Line, Gowda set a strict deadline of August 15 for the commissioning of the 7-km elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere. However, the 13.7-km underground section from Tavarekere to Nagawara is now projected to be operational only by March 2027, missing BMRCL's earlier target of December 2026.

In addition to the airport line, Hebbal is slated for further connectivity under Phase IIIA, which proposes to connect Sarjapur to Hebbal. This phase is currently awaiting clearance from the Central government. Once the entire 58-km Phase 2A and 2B network from Silk Board to the airport is completed, the city's metro network is expected to expand to nearly 175 km by March 2028.

Minister Gowda expressed strong dissatisfaction with BMRCL's track record of delays, noting that the foundation stone for the metro was laid in 2006. He emphasized that the corporation must remain accountable to the public and address the repeated delays that cause ongoing inconvenience to commuters.