Namma Metro: RINA Consulting Awarded DPR Preparation Contract For 37 km Sarjapur Road-Hebbal Line

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) has awarded the contract for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Sarjapur-Hebbal metro line project to RINA Consulting, a Mumbai-based firm.

RINA's engineering and infrastructure vertical provides consulting services for the infrastructure, transport and logistics markets including ports and marine, railways, roads and highways, buildings etc.

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Ltd, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System, Korea Railroad Technical Corporation, Urban Mass Transit Company, Consulting Engineers Group, Tractebel Engineering Pvt ltd, Aarvee Associates, BARSYL are among the other firms that submitted bids for the DPR preparation.

On Apr 11, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) invited tenders to appoint a consultant to create a Detailed Project Report for the Sarjapur-Hebbal line.

The scope of the contract includes the preparation of a detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Rail Corridor of length 37 km connecting Sarjapur to Hebbal via Agra, Koramangala and Dairy Circle.

The DPR preparation is expected to be complete in 8 months.

In March this year, the BJP government in Karnataka unveiled plans to build a 37-km metro line between Sarjapur and Hebbal through Agara, Koramangala and Dairy Circle at a cost of ₹15,000 crore.

CM Basavaraj Bommai made the announcement while presenting his government’s maiden budget for the year 2022-23 in the Karnataka Assembly.

During his budget speech, CM Bommai said, "Action will be taken to prepare Detailed Project Report in the year 2022-2023 for construction of a new 37 km long new Metro line connecting Sarjapura to Hebbal through Agara, Koramangala and Diary Circle at an estimated cost of ₹15,000 crore."

The Sarjapur- Hebbal line was previously envisaged as a part of Metro Phase-3. But, in 2021, the DPR for the Phase-3 line was finalised and only two corridors were announced.

Corridor One will run for 32.15 km along the west of Outer Ring Road from J P Nagar IVth phase to Kempapura with 22 stations. Corridor Two runs from Hosahalli to Kadabgere on Magadi Road will run for 12.5 km with 9 stations. It remains to be seen if Sarjapura to Hebbal will be executed as part of Phase 3 or will be taken up separately.

The ongoing phase 2 and proposed phase 3 Namma Metro will add at least 211.6 km to the existing network of 42.3 km that has been in operation since 2017 (built under Phase 1). Another 14 km under Phase 2 was commissioned in 2021 taking the total length of the network to 56 km. Two greenfield lines are set to be commissioned in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The K.R Puram- Airport line is likely to get commissioned by 2025-26.

DPR To Project Commencement estimated to be 18 months

The DPR will likely to take at least a year for completion and another 6 months to get approval from the government as it needs the authorization of the BMRCL board, the finance department and the state cabinet.