Minister Sets Mid-2027 Target for Hebbal to Airport Metro Line

BENGALURU — Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has announced a series of firm deadlines for the city's expanding metro network, including a mid-2027 target for the 26-kilometer airport corridor running from Hebbal to Kempegowda International Airport.

Speaking after a progress review, the minister also revealed that the connecting metro section from KR Pura to Hebbal is expected to open by December 2027. Additionally, the proposed Phase IIIA line, designed to connect Sarjapur to Hebbal, is currently awaiting clearance from the Central Government.

During the review, Gowda issued directives regarding the long-awaited Blue Line, a 19-kilometer stretch from KR Pura to Silk Board along the Outer Ring Road. Trial runs for this Phase 2A section are scheduled to begin in October 2026. While the stretch is in an advanced stage of construction, civil work continues to lag at Marathahalli, Iblur, and Silk Board. Because of these delays, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is considering conducting initial oscillation trials specifically on the KR Pura-Marathahalli section. Once testing begins, it is expected to take five to six months to secure the necessary statutory clearances for commercial operations.

For the Pink Line, Gowda directed officials to commission the seven-kilometer elevated stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere by August 15, 2026. However, the 13.7-kilometer underground section from Tavarekere to Nagawara has been delayed from its original December 2026 target and is now expected to be operational by March 2027.

Addressing BMRCL's performance, Gowda criticized the agency for repeated delays, noting that deadlines have been missed by up to three years since the project's foundation was laid in 2006. He ordered contractors to minimize road occupancy to ease traffic congestion and warned against leaving construction debris at sites, which has caused waterlogging during heavy rains.