Bengaluru Infra Updates 2023: New Metro Lines Of 40 Km, Double Decker Buses And More

The year 2023 is anticipated to mark a significant turning point for Bengaluru's infrastructure for a variety of reasons.

The two important IT corridors in the city, Whitefield and Electronics City, are expected to be linked with metro services in 2023 after years of delay.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to launch about 40 kilometres of track to the public under Phase II of Bangalore Metro. 

Two lines of Bangalore Metro will be available to the public by mid-2023: the extended Purple Line from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield (15 km) and the new Yellow Line from R V Road to Bommasandra (19 km). 

1. Baiyappanahalli To Whitefield

BMRCL began a trial run between Whitefield and K R Puram in October.

The stretch from K R Puram to Baiyappanahalli will be operational at a later date. This segment will be served by feeder service buses.

The completed Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield stretch will also include stops at Mahadevapura, Garudacharpalya, Hoodi Junction, Seetharama Palya, Kundalahalli, Nallurhalli, Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, Pattandur Agrahara, Kadugodi, Channasandra and Whitefield.

The 15.25-km Purple Line extension project has repeatedly faced delays due to legal wrangling between environmental and local authorities over relocating around 60 trees near Benniganahalli Lake.

2. R V Road To Bommasandra

The 19-kilometre-long new metro line under phase II is a vital corridor in the city. 

According to the 2011 DPR (detailed project report), residents of Jayanagar, BTM Layout and HSR Layout as well as those who work in Electronics City and Bommasandra Industrial Area would benefit from the line. The BMRCL hopes to open the line by the middle of 2023.

BMRCL has constructed a metro-cum-road flyover between Ragigudda and Silk Board as part of the Electronics City metro line. 

BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez stated that the opening of two major lines connecting Whitefield and Electronics City will significantly reduce traffic congestion as lakhs of people will switch to the metro for commuting.

He added that once both lines are operational, metro ridership will exceed 10 lakhs per day.

Currently, the city has a 55 km metro line that is in use. The BMRCL operated 42 km of metro lines in Phase I between 2011 and 2018.

3. Additional Metro Lines

The Purple Line's Kengeri to Challaghatta segment on Mysuru Road and the Green Line's Hesarghatta Cross to Madavara segment on Tumakuru Road are two additional lines that are anticipated to launch this year.

4. Bengaluru Airport's Terminal-2 To Be Operationalised

By mid-January, the new terminal T-2 of the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), in Bengaluru is anticipated to begin operations.

Terminal-2 of Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru was built at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore.

T-2 was formally launched by Prime Minister Modi on 11 November and is being called a 'Terminal in a garden'. 

An ode to the legacy and history of Bengaluru, it reflects new-age philosophies of sustainability and renewable energy, the use of future technologies and a commitment to the city’s historic tag of being “the garden city” of India.

5. Constitution Of Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA)

BMLTA Bill, 2022, which aims to improve the integration and management of the city's urban transportation, was approved by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly recently. 

It plans to establish the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority, among other initiatives. The proposed authority would strive to ensure seamless urban mobility.

The BMLTA will serve as the nodal authority for improved coordination among multiple agencies such as BMTC and BMRCL. It will ensure lowering traffic and provide last-mile connectivity. In addition, the organisation would be responsible for planning Bengaluru's urban mobility requirements.

The proposed legislation states that BMLTA will have 21 members, with the Chief Minister serving as chair and the ministers of development and transportation serving as vice chairs. 

6. Reintroduction Of Double-Decker Buses

The reintroduction of double-decker buses on city roads is also anticipated for this year.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is currently working to introduce 10 double-decker air-conditioned e-buses in Bengaluru.

7. More Electric Buses To Be Launched

The BMTC is likely to introduce more non-AC electric buses under the FAME-2 (faster adoption and manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles) scheme, which aims to promote the usage of hybrid and electric cars.
TATA Motors has inked a contract with BMTC to operate 921 electric buses recently. 

About 390 buses have already been introduced by the BMTC as part of the FAME and Smart City projects. 

BMTC also intends to operate minibuses for metro feeder routes and interior sites with narrow roads.

8. Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway To Be Inaugurated

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that either the Prime Minister or the President would inaugurate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway by the end of February this year.

The 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway reduces travel time between the major cities of Karnataka to less than 90 minutes from the current three hours.

Out of 10 lanes, six lanes are access-controlled main carriageway which is for highway traffic and four lanes are service roads on either side which is for rural traffic. 

The 117 km long expressway, taken up with over Rs 8,408 crore, is being developed under two packages. The first one runs from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta in Maddur taluk for around 56 km. The second package, which is 61 km long, connects Nidaghatta to Mysuru.