Karnataka to establish four new metro lines in Bengaluru

The Government of Karnataka in India has announced intentions to build four more metro lines as part of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project's Phase 3 extension. The expansion is part of a strategy devised by the Karnataka department of planning, program monitoring, and statistics, in collaboration with the industry organisation Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI), to make Karnataka a $1 trillion economy by 2032. With the inclusion of the four proposed new metro lines, the action plan seeks to provide metro access to every person of Bengaluru within 1-2 kilometers of their place of employment or housing by 2032. Phase 3 is anticipated to cost Rs 27,000 crore and includes two new lines and two expansions. The two additional metro lines will cost Rs 9,600 crore and Rs 10,000 crore, respectively, and will run from MG Road to Hope Farm via Marathahalli and Whitefield/IT corridor (Underground) (16 km) and Nagawara - Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) via Thanisandra / Bhartiya City (25 km). The extension lines will be Whitefield - Katamanallur/Hoskote (6 km) for Rs 2,400 crore and Bannerghatta - Jigani (12 km) for Rs 4,800 crore. Namma Metro currently has a 56-kilometer network, with the metro rail project connecting Central Silk Board Junction to Kempegowda International Airport (58.1 kilometers) and 30 stations under construction. A 40.1 km long metro line is also planned to be operational this year. In addition, the Central Government has received a complete project report for two corridors of 44.6 km in length with 31 stations, including JP Nagar 4th Phase-Kempapura along ORR West and Hosahalli-Kadabagere along Magadi Road. The anticipated cost of this project is Rs16,328 crore, and construction will begin after the Government of India approves it. The state government's Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) seeks to build a 317-kilometer Metro train network in Bengaluru by 2031.