Namma Metro Updates: Trials Begin On Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield Line, ORR-Airport Metro Phase 2A To Open In Jun 2025, 2B In Sep 2025

Trial Run Commences On Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line of Bengaluru Metro’s Phase-II

In a significant milestone for the much-awaited Baiyyappanahalli-Whitefield extension of the Purple Line of Namma Metro, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Friday commenced the first trial run covering a distance of 3.5 km stretch which forms a part of the 15.257 km new line.

BMRCL MD Anjum Parwez and staff members from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) along with key executives of Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), which supplied the new coaches to BMRCL, were on board the train during the trial run.

A puja was earlier performed at the depot for its success.

Last week, an unused train set (a set of six cars) was transported to Kadugodi depot to commence the tests. 

For the next few days, the trial runs will be taken up between the 7.5 km Whitefield to Garudacharapalya stretch. Over the next two months, ests on the remaining stretch of the 15.257 km line.

The trial were originally scheduled to be held in September, but heavy rains that lashed the city last month delayed the completing the pending work on the extended Purple Line, especially construction of Kadugodi depot

BMRCL is on the verge of completing all works, including the traction and signalling system between Whitefield and KR Puram The work on pending civic work in few stations in this stretch has also been accelerated.

The last remaining major work is the ongoing installation of a 550-tonne, 65-metre long open-web girder that will crossover the Railway track at Benniganahalli.

South Western Railways SWR insisted on open-web girders instead of composite ones for crossover. The girder, which was fabricated at a steel plant in Bhilai, approved by agencies like Research Design and Standards Organisation and SWR, was brought to the city from Bhilai by road by deploying more than 20 trucks each carrying 25 tonnes of materials each.

The BMRCL is working to get the KR Puram-Whitefield section operational by January and Byappanahalli-KR Puram by March. Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield Metro line is expected to be ready before the model code of conduct for the Karnataka assembly polls comes into force.

BMRCL unveils plans to open Phase 2A of Outer Ring Road-Airport Metro Line by June 2025 and Phase 2B by Sep 2025

The BMRCL has announced timelines for the opening of Phase 2A of ORR-Airport Metro Line by June 2025 and Phase 2B by Sep 2025.

The 56 km ORR-Airport Metro, will connect Central Silk Board Junction to Kempegowda International Airport via KR Puram and Hebbal. The ORR-Airport Metro is being constructed at a cost of Rs.14,844 Crore and will eventually serve 16 lakhs commuters daily.

The ORR-Airport Metro project comprises of two new metro lines (Phase 2-A and Phase 2-B), mostly elevated, with a total length of 56 km along Outer Ring Road (ORR) and National Highway 44 between Central Silk Board and Kempegowda International Airport. The line will include 30 metro stations that will provide multimodal facilities, such as bus bays, taxi stand, motorcycle pools, and pedestrian walkways and bridges will be build under the project.

BMRCL also announced that Metro barricades on the entire stretch will be removed in a phased manner by September 2023.

The restoration timelines will commence in February 2023. The barricades . However, road restoration and barricade removal is only for the viaduct portions. The areas earmarked for stations will continue to be barricaded till the corridor is operational.

ORR is among the densest corridors in the IT capital of India . It is dotted with major IT Parks that houses major companies such as Intel, AOL, Cisco and more present. In addition to the preponderance of tech giants , major residential complexes and apartments have also sprung up. This consequently makes it the city’s most congested road. ORR also acts as a link road connecting traffic between the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and the major IT hubs at Electronics City and Whitefield.

Mumbai-based Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. and Bengaluru-based Shankaranarayana Constructions Pvt. Ltd are currently executing the 18.23 km Central Silkboard – KR Puram (Phase 2A) of the 57 km Blue Line.

Afcons Infrastructure Limited is executing the first package of Phase 2A— 9.8km elevated section with six stations (Central Silk Board Junction, HSR Layout, Agara Junction, Iblur Junction, Bellandur, Kadubeesanahalli and construction of a 2.8m flyover at Central Silk Board). The package is valued at Rs.785 crore.

Shankaranarayana Constructions Pvt Ltd is constructing the second package — 9.7km elevated section with seven stations (Kodibisanahalli, Marathahalli, ISRO Layout, Doddanekkundi, DRDO Sports Complex, Saraswathi Nagar (Mahadevapura) and KR Puram and a 2km link line to Byappanahalli depot). The package is valued at Rs.623 crore.

NCC Ltd is executing the Phase 2B project, comprising of 3 civil packages ranging from 11 to 15 kms.

37 km Phase 2B which will link Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) to KR Puram.

Provisioning Elevated Walkways Below Metro Viaducts

BMRCL has invited private companies to develop elevated walkways below the viaduct between the stations that will allow pedestrians to use the stations for crossing the road and also facilitate integration of commercial and office spaces with the Metro Stations. The walkways are proposed to be developed on PPP model.

Elevated walkway below the viaduct is proposed from Ibbalur station to Kodibesanahalli station & ISRO station to Saraswathi nagar station

BMRCL said that walkway construction to give direct access can be taken up during metro project construction stage itself if any corporates are interested.