Blue Line (Namma Metro)

The Blue Line or ORR-Airport Metro Line is part of the Namma Metro rail network for the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It consists of two sections - Phase-2A (Central Silk Board to Krishnarajapura) and Phase-2B (Krishnarajapura to Airport). Construction of Phase-2A began in August 2021. Construction of Phase-2B began in February 2022. The 58.19 km line connects Central Silk Board with the Kempegowda International Airport. The Line is mostly elevated but also has an at-grade (surface) section close to the Airport and 2 short underground sections where it passes the Jakkur Aerodrome and Yelahanka AFB. There are 30 stations on the line of which the two station/s at the Airport may be at surface level or underground. Blue Line will have interchanges with the Yellow Line at Central Silk Board, Purple Line at KR Pura, Pink Line at Nagawara and with the future /proposed Orange Line at Hebbal.

Blue Line
Overview
Other name(s)	ORR East-Airport Metro Line
Owner	Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Locale	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Termini	Central Silk Board Krishnarajapura / KIAL Terminals
Stations	13 (Phase-2A) + 16 (Phase-2B) = 29 03 (Phase-2B) - Future stations
Website	bmrc.co.in
Service
Type	Metro
System	Namma Metro
Depot(s)	Baiyappanahalli, Doddajala
History
Planned opening	Phase 2A - June 2026; 1 year's time (2026-06) Phase 2B - June 2026; 1 year's time (2026-06)
Technical
Line length	58.19 km (36.16 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	Elevated, At Grade, Underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC third rail
Blue Line Map (TBC) Legend Central Silk Board Yellow Line Under construction HSR Layout Agara Ibbaluru Bellandur Kadubeesanahalli Kodibeesanahalli Marathahalli ISRO Doddanekundi DRDO Sports Complex Sarasvathi Nagar Krishnarajapura Purple Line Baiyappanahalli Depot (U/C) Kasturi Nagar Horamavu HRBR Layout Kalyan Nagar HBR Layout Nagawara Pink Line Under construction Veerannapalya Kempapura Orange Line Hebbala Red Line Planned Kodigehalli Jakkur Cross Jakkur Plantation (no scope) Yelahanka Bagalur Cross Bettahalasuru (no scope) Chikkajala (future) Doddajala Doddajala Depot (U/C) (at-grade) Airport City KIAL Terminals

In June 2022, BMRCL launched the first ever U Girder span on ORR-Airport metro line.^[1][2][3] The extension of the Purple Line and construction of the Pink and Yellow Lines is currently in progress. The Pink, Yellow and Blue lines will be CBTC-signaling enabled, unlike Namma Metro's first two lines (Purple and Green lines use distance-signaling). In June 2023, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka D. K. Shivakumar informed that Metro line to Kempegowda International Airport will be completed by June 2026, plus or minus 3 months.^[4][5][6]

History

The routes under Phase-2A and Phase-2B (Blue Line) were actually part of Phase-3 but 'fast-tracked' and prioritized under Phase-2. As early as in February 2012, the Central government had also requested BMRC to start work on the airport link during Phase 2 itself.^[7][8]

The route from Central Silkboard to K R Puram along the eastern part of Outer Ring Road (ORR) was included as Phase-2A since development on that part of ORR had leap-frogged much ahead of the rest of the city with huge number of new office buildings. As a result, traffic increased several fold with employees traveling from different parts of the city to this new CBD. Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah announced in September 2016 that a new 18 km (11 mi) line connecting Central Silk Board with K.R.Puram along ORR would be included in Phase 2 as Phase-2A of the project at an estimated cost of ₹4202 crores.^[9][10]

Kempegowda International Airport (opened during May 2008) being very far from city center (about 35 km), commuting time by road in traffic congestion is time-consuming. Hence, attention for building a fast mass transit was in the minds of planners from the very beginning, especially since air traffic had kept increasing. The old airport in Bengaluru, the HAL Airport, located well within the city, had closed for commercial operations as part of the terms of the PPP for the new airport.

To connect airport to city, there had initially been a proposal to build a 33 km (21 mi) high speed rail line from MG Road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Cost was estimated at ₹5,767 crore (US$810 million). This was to be executed by an independent SPV - Bangalore Airport Rail Link Limited (BARLL).^[11] However, the plan for an exclusive city-airport high speed rail was canceled during October 2013 due to high cost and viability concerns.^[12]

It was decided that BMRC would manage the airport rail project and a regular metro line with fewer halts would be built instead of a high speed rail. Following this, suggestions were invited from public during September 2016 to choose any one of nine possible extension routes from existing and proposed metro lines to the airport.^[13] 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.^[14] The shortest (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.^[15] In February 2017, the Centre requested BMRC to start work on the airport link before Phase 3. Thus, the Airport Line was included in Phase 2 as Phase 2B.^[16]

Since the airport's managing company, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) forbade underground construction from the southern side of the airport (due to security concerns 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 and then along Airport Road was explored. 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.^[17] However, this route had an obstacle as a high-pressure petroleum pipeline was passing through the originally proposed route.^[18]

This was changed and 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. Puram) and be aligned along the northern part of ORR (Outer Ring road), passing Kasturinagar, Nagawara, Hebbal, and Jakkur before heading towards the airport. The line would be 38 km long, about 9 km longer than the route previously proposed, estimated to cost ₹10,584 crore (US$1.5 billion).^[19]

Tendering

Blue Line
Tendering	Section	Length	Successful Bid /Cost	Contractor	Award
Package 2A/P1/60(a)	Central Silk Board - Kodibeesanahalli	9.859 km (6.126 mi)	₹785.25 crore (US$94 million)	Afcons	25 May 2021
Package 2A/P2/60(b)	Kodibeesanahalli - KR Puram	9.774 km (6.073 mi)	₹623.55 crore (US$75 million)	Shankaranarayana	25 May 2021
Package 2B/P2/69(a)	KR Puram - Kempapura	11.003 km (6.837 mi)	₹739.04 crore (US$89 million)	NCC	17 Nov 2021
Package 2B/P2/69(b)	Kempapura - Bagalur Cross	11.678 km (7.256 mi)	₹747.99 crore (US$90 million)	NCC	17 Nov 2021
Package 2B/P2/69(c)	Bagalur Cross - KIAL Terminals	15.011 km (9.327 mi)	₹680.21 crore (US$82 million)	NCC	17 Nov 2021
Project Management Consultant			₹20.58 crore (US$2.5 million)	RITES	17 Dec 2021
Baiyappanahalli Depot			₹249.19 crore (US$30 million)	J Kumar – AICPL JV	18 Mar 2023
Airport Depot			₹182.39 crore (US$22 million)	J Kumar – AICPL JV	18 Mar 2023
Ballastless Track Work			₹500.94 crore (US$60 million)	Larsen & Toubro	02 Jun 2023
Rolling Stock (222 Coaches)			₹2,217.78 crore (US$270 million)	BEML	08 Aug 2023
Track Turnout			₹29.98 crore (US$3.6 million)	Vossloh	22 Mar 2024
Engineering, Supply, Erection, Testing and Commissioning of Power Supply			₹248.61 crore (US$30 million)	KEC International	10 Jun 2024
750V DC Third Rail electrification			₹764.64 crore (US$92 million)	Siemens – RVNL JV	11 Jun 2024
Total		58.19 km (36.16 mi)	₹7,790.15 crore (US$930 million)

Phase-2A

BMRCL prepared the detailed project report for the proposed Central Silk Board - KR Puram Line and submitted the DPR to the state government on 28 October 2016. Phase 2A was approved by the State Cabinet on 1 March 2017.

Tenders for the ORR (East) Metro line were called in 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 selected firm, IL&FS. A second round of tendering was done in December 2019.^[20] The project cost was revised to ₹5994 crores.^[20] Fresh bids were received by multiple firms in March 2020.^[21][22] 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.

Central government's approval was much delayed^[23][24] and finally received in April-2021.^[25] Tenders were awarded in May-2021 and construction on Phase-2A finally began in August-2021.^[26] Opening of this phase as per August 2022 from MD of BMRCL is expected around December 2024.

Phase-2B

DPR for the Airport Line had been prepared in September 2017^[27][28] and cleared by Government of Karnataka in January 2019.^[19]

Tenders for the Airport line were called in July 2020. There are three packages. The first package was for 11.003 km viaduct, including 281 mtrs viaduct beyond Phase-2A with eight elevated stations and 650 mtrs link line to Baiyyappanahalli depot. The second package was for 11.678 km viaduct with 250 mtrs pocket track and two elevated stations. The third package was for 15.011 km viaduct, including 718.18 mtrs cut and cover portion in front of Yelahanka Air Force Station. All three packages include road widening, utility diversion and allied works.

Bettadahalasuru station would be built by Embassy group at a cost of ₹140 crore. Kempegowda International Airport is likely to fund the construction of two airport stations off the highway.^[29][30] An MoU was signed between BMRC and KIAL for construction of the 4.95 km line and stations entailing an investment of ₹800 crore.

Central government's approval was delayed^[23][24] and finally received in April 2021.^[25] Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) emerged as the lowest bidder to construct the line on September 16, 2021. Construction finally began in February 2022. Opening of this phase as per August 2022 from MD of BMRCL is expected around December 2025.

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,^[31][32] which led to their eventual death.^[33][34] BMRCL announced a financial assistance of ₹ 20 lakh.^[35][36] Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also announced a separate compensation of Rs 10 lakh for each of the deaths from the Chief Ministers’ Relief Fund.^[37][38]

Funding

The Union and State governments will contribute ₹3,973 crore by way of equity and subordinate debt. Land acquisition costs, estimated at ₹2,762 crore, will be funded by the Government of Karnataka. BMRCL will raise the remaining amount of ₹5,960 crores through loans. In March-2021, it had entered into a loan agreement with JICA for US$318 million (₹2,317 crore). BMRC has raised US$500 million (₹3643 crore) from ADB to fund construction of the Blue Line (Phase-2A and 2B).^[39][40]

Thus, financial arrangements have been completed for Phases 2A and 2B. The 58.19-km line is estimated to cost ₹14,788 crores.^[41]

On June 10, 2024, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) disclosed in a BSE filing that its joint venture with Siemens has secured a contract worth approximately Rs. 762 crore from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. This contract encompasses the 750V DC third rail electrification work under package EPC5-CC for the 57 km Blue Line of the Namma Metro. ^[42]

Stations

The Blue Line will have 30 stations.

Interchanges

Passenger interchange facilities, connecting to other metro and railway lines, will be provided at the following stations:

• Central Silk Board (Connects to the Yellow Line, which runs from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road to Bommasandra)
• Agara (Connects to the proposed Red Line, which runs from Hebbala to Sarjapura)
• Ibbaluru (Connects to the proposed Red Line, which runs from Hebbala to Sarjapura)
• Krishnarajapura (Connects to the Purple Line, which runs from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta
• Nagawara (Connects to the Pink Line, which runs between Nagawara and Kalena Agragara)
• Kempapura
• Hebbala
• KIAL Terminals

Blue Line
Phase-2A (Expected January 2026)
#	Station Name		Connections	Station Layout	Platform Level Type
	English	Kannada
1	Central Silk Board	ಕೇಂದ್ರ ರೇಷ್ಮೆ ಮಂಡಳಿ	Yellow Line (Under Construction)	Elevated	Side
2	HSR Layout	ಎಚ್‌ ಎಸ್‌ ಆರ್ ಬಡಾವಣೆ		Elevated	Side
3	Agara	ಅಗರ	Red Line (Proposed)	Elevated	Side
4	Ibbaluru	ಇಬ್ಬಲೂರು	Red Line (Proposed)	Elevated	Side
5	Bellandur	ಬೆಳ್ಳಂದೂರು		Elevated	Side
6	Kadubeesanahalli	ಕಾಡುಬೀಸನಹಳ್ಳಿ		Elevated	Side
7	Kodibeesanahalli	ಕೋಡಿಬೀಸನಹಳ್ಳಿ		Elevated	Side
8	Marathahalli	ಮಾರತಹಳ್ಳಿ		Elevated	Side
9	ISRO	ಇಸ್ರೋ		Elevated	Side
10	Doddanekundi	ದೊಡ್ದನೆಕ್ಕುಂದಿ		Elevated	Side
11	DRDO Sports Complex	ರ.ಸಂ.ಅ.ಸಂ. ಕ್ರೀಡಾ ಸಂಕೀರ್ಣ		Elevated	Side
12	Sarasvathi Nagar	ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ನಗರ		Elevated	Side
13	Krishnarajapura	ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾಜಪುರ	Purple Line Krishnarajapuram	Elevated	Side
Phase-2B (Expected around June 2026)
14	Kasturi Nagar	ಕಸ್ತೂರಿನಗರ		Elevated	Side
15	Horamavu	ಹೊರಮಾವು		Elevated	Side
16	HRBR Layout	ಎಚ್‌ ಆರ್‌ ಬಿ ಆರ್ ಬಡಾವಣೆ		Elevated	Side
17	Kalyan Nagar	ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ನಗರ		Elevated	Side
18	HBR Layout	ಎಚ್‌ ಬಿ ಆರ್ ಬಡಾವಣೆ		Elevated	Side
19	Nagawara	ನಾಗವಾರ	Pink Line (Under Construction)	Elevated	Side & Island
20	Veerannapalya	ವೀರಣ್ಣಪಾಳ್ಯ		Elevated	Side
21	Kempapura	ಕೆಂಪಾಪುರ	Orange Line (Planned)	Elevated	Side
22	Hebbala	ಹೆಬ್ಬಾಳ	Hebbal; Hebbal TTMC; Orange Line (Planned); Red Line (Proposed)	Elevated	Side
23	Kodigehalli	ಕೊಡಿಗೇಹಳ್ಳಿ		Elevated	Island
24	Jakkur Cross	ಜಕ್ಕೂರು ಅಡ್ಡ		Elevated	Island
25	Jakkuru Plantation	ಜಕ್ಕೂರು ತೋಟ	No Scope
26	Yelahanka	ಯಲಹಂಕ		Elevated	Island
27	Bagalur Cross	ಬಾಗಲೂರು ಅಡ್ಡ		Elevated	Island
28	Doddajala	ದೊಡ್ಡಜಾಲ		Elevated	Side
29	Airport City	ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ನಗರ	Airport City (Proposed)	At-Grade	Side
30	KIAL Terminals	ಕ ಅಂ ವಿ ನಿ ಕೊನೆಯ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ	Kempegowda International Airport	Underground	Island

See also

• Namma Metro
  • Purple Line
  • Green Line
  • Yellow Line
  • Pink Line
  • Orange Line
  • Red Line

• List of Namma Metro Stations
• Rapid transit in India
• List of metro systems

References

1. "Bengaluru: Namma Metro's first U-girder launched on ORR". The Times of India. 19 June 2022.
2. "BMRCL launches U Girder for the first time on ORR-Airport metro line". The Hindu. 19 June 2022.
3. "BMRCL to switch to U-girders for ORR, KIA Metro lines". The Times of India. 16 September 2019.
4. "Metro line to Bengaluru Airport to be ready by June 2026: D K Shivakumar".
5. "Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar clarifies on upcoming new metro lines in Bengaluru. Details".
6. Bureau, The Hindu (12 February 2024). "Namma Metro link to Bengaluru airport will be completed by June 2026: Governor". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 February 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
7. "DPR for Metro link to BIA in five months". Deccan Herald. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
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14. "Central funding brightens prospects of metro line to Bengaluru airport". The Hindu. 14 January 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
15. Kidiyoor, Suchith (7 December 2016). "Bengaluru wants KIA Metro line via Nagawara". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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17. "Govt finalises KIA metro link route". Deccan Herald. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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24. Menezes, Naveen. "Bengaluru Metro Corp to Blame for ORR, Airport Lines Delay?". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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29. "Public-Private Partnership between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) for Airport section of the ORR-Airport Metro: Signing of MoU". Public-Private Partnership between Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) for Airport section of the ORR-Airport Metro: Signing of MoU. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
30. "Embassy Group signs MoU with BMRCL for Bettahalasur Metro Station". Moneycontrol. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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32. "'I wish I had died too': Husband recalls Bengaluru metro accident horror". 11 January 2023.
33. "Bengaluru metro structure falls; techie, kid killed". The Times of India. 11 January 2023.
34. "What caused the under-construction metro pier in Bengaluru to fall?". 11 January 2023.
35. "Metro structure falls on family of 4, kills mother & toddler-son in Bengaluru". The Times of India. 11 January 2023.
36. "I regret not insisting on her to work from home, says mother-in-law of Bengaluru Metro pillar collapse victim". 10 January 2023.
37. "'I will pay you Rs 1 crore. Can you bring back my daughter and grandson?': Bengaluru Metro pillar collapse victim's father". 11 January 2023.
38. "Bengaluru News Highlights: Woman, her son die after under-construction metro pillar collapses in Hennur CM Bommai announces Rs 10 lakh compensation each". 9 January 2023.
39. "Metro Seeks ₹3.5k cr from ADB - The Economic Times - Bangalore, 2/26/2019". epaper.timesgroup.com. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
40. "ADB approves $500 million loan for Silk Board-airport metro". Deccan Herald. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
41. "BMRCL signs loan agreement with ADB". The Hindu. 20 August 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
42. Reporter, Staff (12 June 2024). "Bangalore Metro: Siemens - RVNL JV Bags Rs. 762 Crore Electrification Contract Of Blue Line - Metro Rail News". Retrieved 12 June 2024.