A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Namma Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 Namma Metro trains on the Purple Line and Green Line | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) | ||
| Locale | Bengaluru | ||
| Transit type | Rapid transit | ||
| Line number | Operational
Under Construction Under Planning | ||
| Number of stations | 66[1] | ||
| Daily ridership | Average: 6,36,000 (Apr 2023-Mar 2024)[2] | ||
| Annual ridership | 232.8 million (2023)[3] | ||
| Chief executive | Maheshwar Rao (MD) | ||
| Headquarters | BMTC Central Office, Sarige Sadana, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India | ||
| Website | bmrc.co.in | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 20 October 2011 | ||
| Train length | 6 coaches[4] | ||
| Headway | 3–15 minutes[5] | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | Operational 73.75 km (45.83 mi) ; Under Construction (Ph 2,2A,2B) 98.26 km (61.06 mi) | ||
| No. of tracks | 2 | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail | ||
| Average speed | 35 km/h (22 mph)[6] | ||
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) | ||
| |||
Namma Metro (meaning Our Metro in Kannada), also known as Bengaluru Metro, is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bengaluru, the capital city of the state of Karnataka, India.[7] It is the second longest operational metro network in India with an operational length of 73.75 kilometers, just behind Delhi Metro.[8][9][10] Upon its inauguration, it became the first underground metro system in South India.[11] Namma Metro has a mix of underground, at grade, and elevated stations. Out of the 66 operational metro stations of Namma Metro as of October 2023, there are 57 elevated stations, eight underground stations and one at-grade station. The system runs on standard-gauge tracks.
Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture of Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka, is the agency for building, operating and expanding the Namma Metro network.[12] Services operate daily between 05:00 and 24:00 running with a headway varying between 5–15 minutes.[13] The trains initially began with three coaches but later grew to six coaches as ridership increased.[14] Power is supplied by 750V direct current through third rail. As of March 2024, the metro system had an average daily ridership of about 6,36,000 passengers.[15]
History
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
The State Town Planning Department had recommended looking into a mass rapid transit project, i.e. a metro for Bengaluru city way back in 1977. A high-level Committee had also agreed that a metro study was warranted and a team from Southern Railway (SR) was commissioned to do this in 1981. The Southern Railway team recommended a 2-corridor metro, 80 km (50 mi) in length in addition to commuter rail lines and a ring railway.[16]
In 1993, the State of Karnataka established another committee to look into mass rapid transit. This committee had again recommended the same metro project put forward by SR in 1983 and the same circular railway.[16]
The state created Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd (BMRTL) in 1994, with terms of reference to seek a public/private partnership for a mass rapid transit project. The government immediately introduced a special city cess dedicated to the anticipated mass rapid transit project. BMRTL commissioned a feasibility study which came up with an elevated, LRT-based, 300 km (190 mi) long network on 6 routes. A private consortium led by United Breweries Group undertook further development of the project on BOT basis. However, the project hadn't taken off.[16]
In 2003, the Government of Karnataka commissioned the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which had successfully developed the Delhi Metro, to carry out a detailed preparation study for a metro in Bengaluru, to be done emulating the technical and financial aspects of the approach used in Delhi. The study recommended a 2-line metro, 60 km (37.3 mi) and 50 km (31 mi) in length, cross shaped. The middle of the cross was to be at the Central Railway Station in Bengaluru, completely underground. The economic rate-of-return was forecast at 22.3%. The financial forecast assumes a government subsidy for interest payments and some depreciation, i.e. fare revenue will cover somewhat more than direct operating costs. The Government accepted this option. BMRTL ceased to exist and was replaced by Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL).[16]
Construction
Phase 1
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) prepared and submitted the detailed project for the first phase of Namma Metro in May 2003. The DPR was for a 33 km (21 mi) network with 32 stations for Phase 1 of the project, using standard gauge. The project was approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 April 2006. The foundation stone for construction of Phase 1 was laid by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 24 June 2006.[17] Navayuga Engineering Company Limited was awarded the first contract to construct Reach 1 of the east–west corridor in 2006. Civil construction on the first section (Reach-1) of the Purple Line between Baiyyappanahalli and Mahatma Gandhi Road, commenced on 15 April 2007.[18]
DPRs for a northern extension (from Yeshwanthapura to Nagasandra) and a southern extension (from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road to Yelachenahalli) was submitted in October 2007 and June 2008 respectively. With these extensions, the total route length for phase-1 became 42.3 km (26.3 mi). The objective was to connect the metro to the Outer Ring Road at northern and southern ends, and also cover the industrial areas of Peenya in the north-west, thereby providing better connectivity and increasing ridership. In October 2008, the Government of Karnataka approved this extension, which would cost an additional ₹1,763 crore (US$250 million).[19]
Underground section
Both lines in Phase-1 have tunnel sections in the city center which were the first metro tunnels built in South India.[11] Construction of underground sections in Phase 1 commenced during late 2012. The delay was due to cancellation of the initial tenders called during early 2008 as the entire DPR had to be revised and bids received were too high.[20] A second round of tendering was done in late 2009 with the gigantic Majestic inter-change station as a separate package.[21] Bids were awarded for the tunnel sections during 2011 and construction began in 2012.
The tunnels bored with tunnel boring machines (TBMs), located approximately 60 feet (18 m) below ground level, have a diameter of 5.5 metres (18 ft 1 in) and are 5 metres (16 ft 5 in) apart. The TBMs were nicknamed Helen, Margarita,[22] Kaveri, Krishna and Godavari.[23]
Tunnel boring of underground section UG1 (on east–west corridor) was completed on 17 March 2014.[24] Track works and 3rd rail electrification works were completed on the 4.8 km (3.0 mi) east–west tunnel of the Purple line between Cubbon Park and Magadi Road and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) began trials on 23 November 2015. The entire stretch of the Purple Line was opened on 29 April 2016.[25]
Tunnel boring of underground section UG2 (on north–south corridor) was completed on 23 September 2016. The tunneling faced a major delay when the cutter head of TBM Godavari was broken and spares had to be awaited.[26] Trial runs on the 4.0 km (2.5 mi) east–west tunnel of the Green line between Sampige Road and National College were commenced on 31 March 2017. The entire stretch of Green Line was opened on 19 June 2017, thus completing phase-1 of the project.[27]
Opening
After missing deadlines, Namma Metro's first section (Reach-1) had finally opened to the public on 20 October 2011.[28][29][30] There was an overwhelming response by the public at commencement of operations. As per BMRCL sources, within the first 3 days of operations 169,019 people rode the metro.[31] At the end of the 4th day, about 200,000 passengers had already commuted on Namma Metro. Namma Metro's first 12-day cumulative revenue was ₹1 crore (US$100,000).[32]
The northern section of Green Line (Reach 3,3A,3B) was initially scheduled to be opened by the end of 2012. However, it was delayed and finally opened on 1 March 2014.[33] BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola stated that about 25,000 passengers travelled on the line on the opening day.[34] In the first month of operations, 7.62 lakh people used the line, at an average of 24,605 daily, generating revenues of ₹1.5 crore (US$210,000).
The first underground section (on the Purple line) commenced operations on 30 April 2016, thus providing through connectivity between east and west of the city.
The second underground section, along with southern reaches (viz. Reach 4,4A) was opened on 18 June 2017.[35]
Once the east and west reaches were inter-connected with opening of the underground section of the purple line, ridership surged hugely. After the north–south underground section was opened (simultaneously with the elevated reach 4,4A in the south), the network provided connectivity in all four directions with interchange between the lines and this further increased ridership. Ridership kept increasing and was around 4,50,000 daily (September 2019).[36]
Phase 1 lines and sections
Phase 1 comprises two lines spanning a length of 42.30 kilometres (26.28 mi), of which about 8.82 kilometres (5.48 mi) is underground and about 33.48 kilometres (20.80 mi) is elevated.[37] There are 40 stations in Phase 1, of which 7 stations are underground, 1 at grade and 32 are elevated.[38]
The first phase of the project was initially budgeted at ₹6,395 crore (US$875 million).[39] With route extensions and cost escalation, this was later revised to ₹11,609 crores (US$1.6 billion). There were many delays during construction and as a result, there were several postponements. The difficult geological conditions below ground with a mix of soft soil, high groundwater levels, hard granite and large boulders was a major impediment for tunnel boring. A major delay was due to a broken cutter head of TBM Godavari for which spares had to be ordered from Italy.[40][41] Phase 1, containing 2 lines aggregating 42.3 km (26.3 mi) was completed and services opened to public on 19-June-2017. The final costs for phase-1 were ₹14,405 crores.[42]
Phase 2
The State Government accorded approval for preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for Phase 2 by DMRC on 4 January 2011.[43] The high power committee (HPC) gave in-principle clearance to proceed with Phase 2 in July 2011. Karnataka government gave in-principle approval to Phase 2 of the Namma Metro project on 3 January 2012.[44][45] However, there were delays in DPR preparation and hence approval from Central government.[20] Phase 2 was cleared by the expenditure finance committee (EFC) in August 2013. The Union Cabinet finally announced that it had approved plans for phase-2 on 30 January 2014.[46]
The estimated total cost for Phase 2 was around ₹26,405 crore (US$3.7 billion) at 2011-12 price levels.[47] The State Government would contribute ₹9,000 crore (US$1.3 billion).[48] The project cost of ₹26,405 at 2011–12 price levels is set to escalate about 5 per cent every year with increasing cost of inputs. The Union government will share that part of cost escalation due to increase in central levies, while the State and BMRCL will have to bear any other escalation. The total project cost for Phase 2 is estimated to reach at least ₹30,000 crore (US$4.2 billion) at start of construction itself. In October 2018, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara stated that the cost of Phase 2 would be around ₹32,000 crore (US$4.5 billion).[49]
Phase 2 spans a length of 72.095–13.79 km (44.798–8.569 mi) underground, 0.48 km (0.30 mi) at grade and 57.825 km (35.931 mi) elevated, and adds 62 stations to the network, of which 12 are underground.[50] Phase 2 includes extension of the two Phase 1 lines in both directions, as well as construction of two new lines.[51]
The south-end of the Green Line will be extended from Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute (previously named Anjanapura) along Kanakapura Road, north-end from Nagasandra to Madavara (previously named BIEC) on Tumkur Road (NH-4). The east-end of the Purple Line will be extended from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield and the west-end from Mysore Road to Kengeri (later extended to Challaghatta). A new, 18.82 km (11.69 mi) long, fully elevated line from RV Road to Bommasandra will be constructed, passing through Electronic City. The second new line will be 21.25 km (13.20 mi) from Kalena Agrahara (previously Gottigere) to Nagawara. The line is mostly underground (13.79 km or 8.57 mi), but also has a 6.98 km (4.34 mi) elevated section and a 0.48 km (0.30 mi) at-grade section. There are 18 stations on the line, of which 12 are underground and 6 are elevated.[38] Unlike Phase 1, all stations being built in Phase 2 will have bus bays and/or parking facilities.[52]
Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) is responsible for acquiring land for Phase 2. It was estimated that 102.02 hectares (252.1 acres) of land would be required for Phase 2 (including Phase 2A). By April 2017, BMRCL had already spent ₹5000 crore on land acquisition.[53]
Construction work began on the south extension of the Green Line from Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute (6.29 km or 3.91 mi) and the west extension of the Purple Line from Mysore Road to Kengeri (8.81 km or 5.47 mi) by October 2016. Construction work on the west extension of Purple Line was awarded in two packages for ₹660 crore,[54] while the Green Line south extension was awarded in a single package for ₹508.86 crore.[55][non-primary source needed]
Construction work for the north extension of the Green Line (from Nagasandra to Madavara) and the east extension of the Purple Line (from Baiyyappanahalli to Whitefield) began in July 2017. The 3.031 km (1.883 mi) north extension is estimated to cost ₹247.41 crore[56] while the east extension (15.5 km) was awarded for ₹1,300 crore (US$180 million).[57]
Construction of the yellow line, a new line from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road to Bommasandra in 3 packages began post awarding of tenders in November 2017. The first package (6.418 km / 3.988 mi) was a stretch from Bommasandra to Hosa Road station, including depot entry line to Hebbagodi depot and five Metro stations. The second package was for a 6.38 km (3.96 mi) stretch from Hosa Road to Bommanahalli (previously HSR Layout). Both packages were awarded for ₹1,750 crore (US$250 million) to Thailand-based ITD Cementation India.[57] The third package was for a stretch from RV Road to Bommanahalli (previously HSR Layout), 6.34 km long elevated section and 5 stations, for ₹797.29 crores (US$110 million) and includes the construction of a road-cum-rail flyover, road widening and allied works.[58]
Construction of the 7.5 km elevated section of a new pink line between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere (previously Swagat Road Cross) stations, estimated to cost ₹575.52 crore (US$81 million) began post tendering in February 2018. The tender includes the construction of the elevated viaduct, 5 stations and car depot line to Kothanur depot.[59]
Underground section
BMRC initially floated tenders for the construction of the 13.9 km underground section in four packages during June 2017. However, the tenders were cancelled as all the bids received were far too high (higher by nearly 70%)[60][61] at Rs.8553.45 crores (US$1.28 billion) when compared to BMRC's estimated total of Rs 5047.56 crores (about US$760 million).
The second round of tendering resulted in tenders being awarded to three firms during March–June period, 2019. One of the firms (L&T) won two bids.[62]
The total awarded tunneling tenders for the underground sections was ₹5,925.95 crores (appx US$812 million).[63][64][65]
Pre-tunneling construction work and piling for stations began in May 2019 by L&T.[66] Tunnel boring using TBMs began in July 2020 by L&T.[67] Tunnel boring work by the other two contractors (viz. Afcons & ITD-Cem) was commenced during 2021.
Phase 2A
In September 2016, government announced that a new 18 km (11 mi) line connecting Silk Board with K.R. Pura would be included in Phase 2 as Phase-2A of the project. The line would be along the eastern half of Outer Ring Road and is proposed to have 13 stations – Silk Board, HSR Layout, Agara, Ibbalur, Bellandur, Kadubeesanahalli, Kodibisanahalli, Marathahalli, ISRO, Doddanekundi, DRDO Sports Complex, Sarasvathi Nagara (previously Mahadevapura) and K.R. Pura.[68] The cost was estimated to be ₹4202 crores. BMRCL prepared the detailed project report for the proposed line and submitted the DPR to the state government on 28 October 2016.[69] Phase 2A was approved by the State Cabinet on 1 March 2017.[70] The ORR Metro line (Blue line) will have interchange stations with the extended Purple Line at K.R. Pura and with the proposed R V Road – Bommasandra line (Yellow Line) at Silk Board.
Tenders for ORR Metro line (east) were called during February 2018 and IL&FS emerged the lowest bidder for all packages. However, the tenders were quashed due to cash flow problems and bankruptcy proceedings by the firm.[71] A second round of tendering was done during December 2019 and bids were received by multiple firms during March 2020.[72][73] There are two packages. The first package included 2.84 km of ramps for a flyover at Central Silk board junction in addition to 9.859 km of viaduct with six elevated stations. The second package was for 8.377 km viaduct with seven elevated stations, 1.097 km depot line and a 0.30 km pocket track.
Phase 2B
There had been a proposal to build a 33 km (21 mi) high speed rail line from MG Road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), at a cost of ₹5,767 crore (US$810 million).[74] This was to be executed by an independent SPV, but later it was decided that BMRC would manage this project and a regular metro line with fewer halts would be built instead of a high speed rail, thus travel time between city to airport would be less. As early as in February 2012, the Central Government had also requested BMRC to start work on the airport link during Phase 2 itself.[75][76]
Following this, during September 2016, suggestions were invited from public to choose any one of nine possible extension routes from existing and proposed metro lines to the airport.[77] The proposed extension routes had an average length of 30 km (19 mi), and cost estimates ranged between ₹4,500 crore and ₹7,000 crore. A 25.9 km (16.1 mi) extension from Nagawara via Kannur and Bagaluru was the shortest, while the 35.4 km (22.0 mi) extension from Yeshwanthpur via Yelahanka, Kannur and Bagaluru was the longest of the proposed routes. BMRC received 1,300 responses from the public.[78] A 25.9 km (16.1 mi) extension of the Kalena Agrahara (previously Gottigere) – Nagawara line via Kannur and Bagaluru to the airport emerged as the most popular choice.[79]
Since Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) forbade underground construction from the southern side of the airport (due to security as it would have to pass beneath the airport's second runway), the shortest route options (i.e. extending the Pink line from Nagawara directly north) were eliminated. An alternate route proceeding north till RK Hegde nagar and then turning west to Jakkur was then explored. However, even this had an obstacle as a high-pressure petroleum pipeline was passing through the originally proposed route.[80]
Bangalore Development Minister K. J. George announced on 12 May 2017 that the government had finalized the Nagawara-Ramakrishna Hegde Nagar-Jakkur-Yelahanka route to the airport.[81] On 10 January 2019, the State Cabinet approved a change in alignment for the proposed metro line to the airport. The new line would begin at Krishnarajapura (K.R. Pura) and be aligned along the northern part of ORR (Outer Ring Road), passing Nagawara, Hebbal, and Jakkur before heading towards the airport along Ballari road.[82] The line would be 39.8 km (24.7 mi) long, about 8 km (5.0 mi) longer than the route previously proposed. It is estimated to cost ₹10,584 crore (US$1.5 billion) almost twice as much as the previous route's estimate of ₹5,950 crore (US$830 million).[83]
The Union Cabinet cleared two much awaited lines of the Bengaluru Metro's Phase-2A and 2B on 20 April 2021. Phase-2A and Phase 2B lines total a distance of 58.19 km and were approved at a cost of Rs.14,788 crore. The projected ridership on both these lines in 2026 is estimated at 7.7 lakhs.[84] Construction of the airport line is expected to begin by October 2021.[85] In January 2023, there was an accident when an reinforcement cage of the under-construction metro pier fell on a woman software engineer, Tejaswini Sulakhe and her son Vihan in HBR Layout,[86][87] which led to their eventual death.[88][89] BMRCL announced a financial assistance of ₹ 20 lakh.[90][91] Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also announced a separate compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each of the deaths from the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund.[92][93]
Phase 2, 2A, and 2B lines and sections
Phase 2 originally involved extending four reaches of the two lines in all directions and two new lines (Yellow Line and Pink Line).
The ORR-East Line was later included as Phase 2A followed by the Airport Line (as a continuation of the ORR-East Line) as Phase-2B. The line was later named as Blue Line.
Construction of Phase 2A has been divided into two (elevated section) packages. Construction of Phase 2B has been divided into three (elevated section) packages. Airport stations have not been included with tenders as they will likely be built by Kempegowda International Airport.
Future expansion
Phase 3
A 124 km (77 mi) Phase 3 was initially proposed in May 2016.[94] Certain significant sections that were proposed for Phase 3 were included in Phase 2 as Phase 2A and Phase 2B.[95][96][97] The plans for Phase 3 were hence revised.
On 7 March 2020 it was announced that two corridors totaling 44.65 km would be built as fully elevated lines[98] under PPP mode (Kempapura-Jayaprakash Nagara 4th Ph (along ORR-West) and Hosahalli-Kadabagere).[99][100][101]
On 4 March 2022 during budget speech by the state government, another new corridor spanning 35 km from Hebbal to Sarjapura was announced (to be taken up as Phase-3B). The Chief Minister stated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared for the proposed corridor, estimated to cost around ₹15,000 crores. The two corridors announced previously were estimated to cost ₹13,500 crores.
As pr latest updates, the much-anticipated third phase of the Bengaluru Metro project, spanning approximately 44.65 km from JP Nagar to Kadabagere, is slated to kick off by the end of 2024. With the central government's approval pending, the state government has already given its consent, marking a significant step forward in the project's realization. [102][103]
Thus Phase 3 will likely be for a total of about 80 km.[104][105]
Other proposals
On 10 March 2023, the Government of Karnataka announced further extensions and routes. The new corridors costing ₹27,000 crores would add 59 km of length to the system.[106] There has also been a proposal for an Inner Ring Metro Line, as recommended by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and included in Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP-2019).
The Government of Tamil Nadu had sought an extension of the Yellow line from Bommasandra to Hosur Railway Station, located in Hosur, a city near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. The Karnataka Government has advised the Tamil Nadu Government to conduct a feasibility study at its own cost.