BENGALURU (Metro Rail & Steel): The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is poised to kickstart preliminary activities for the much-anticipated third phase of the transformative Namma Metro project, a significant expansion set to redefine Bengaluru’s urban commute. In a recent development, the BMRCL has pinpointed approximately 100 acres of land crucial for constructing depots and yards in specific segments earmarked for the third phase. While the acquisition process for these sites is currently underway, officials assure ongoing updates on this pivotal aspect of the project.
This ambitious phase encompasses the construction of two vital metro lines: one stretching from JP Nagar to Kempegowda, spanning an impressive 32.1 km along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Magadi Road, and the other from Yelachenahalli to Kengeri, covering 12.5 km. However, pending the Department of Urban Land Transport’s central approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR), certain modifications along the Magadi Road route have been suggested by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs. Notably, the Karnataka government’s generous sanction of Rs 15,600 crore in November 2022 has set the financial wheels in motion. The finance department has issued directives to initiate the crucial land acquisition process essential for the project, awaiting final approval from the state cabinet secretary before embarking on this phase.
The projected timeline estimates approximately six months for the acquisition of the required land post the initial phase. Plans to construct depots on a 100-acre plot adjacent to the Byadarahalli Police Station on Magadi Road are in deliberation, earmarking this space to support the extensive area covered in the third phase. Once established, this depot is slated to be the city’s largest metro depot, facilitating operations for the two designated routes, as confirmed by BMRCL sources. Furthermore, an integration process is in the pipeline, linking the proposed Peenya depot while ensuring accessibility to the existing Peenya depot in line with the blueprint. Simultaneously, a 25-acre parcel has been identified for the construction of a vital overbridge, with plans underway to initiate land acquisition surveys in the imminent future.
