Daily commuters in the busy city of Bengaluru have been enjoying the services on the Purple, Green and Yellow Lines of the Namma Metro. However, prolonged delays in the Bengaluru metro’s Blue Line project continue to frustrate the locals and air travellers.
When the ambitious plans to connect the Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) were announced, the metro authorities promised its completion within four years. But the much-anticipated project continues to endure roadblocks, with reports of a latest deadline of late 2027.
Why Blue Line Metro Is Essential Stretching over 58.19 kilometres, the Blue Line metro route is split into Phase 2A (Silk Board–KR Puram, 19.75 km) and Phase 2B (KR Puram–Airport, 38.44 km). When made
operational, this metro will run through the Outer Ring Road, which is a hub of major tech companies and corporate giants. It is hoped that this metro would provide a seamless link for locals and air travellers to the Kempegowda International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country.
A budget of Rs 15,131 crore had been allocated to the project to provide the Blue Line metro with driverless trains, luggage racks and enhanced safety systems. The authorities will be building two dedicated stations within the airport premises, which include a semi-underground terminal station.
Frustrating Delays
Originally launched in 2016 with a detailed project report submitted by Namma Metro authorities, the Blue Line metro received approvals in 2017 and 2019. But the construction for the project only began years later in 2021, with an initial deadline set for December 2024. The locals have since awaited the completion of the work, as the latest reports suggest that it could be further delayed. In June this year, the Bengaluru Metro indicated that Phase 2A may witness its partial opening by September 2025, while Phase 2B airport link would take at least another two years.
These delays have continued to frustrate locals and air travellers, who have to endure the city’s jam-packed traffic to reach the airport right now. The bone of contention is the land acquisition hurdles, traffic diversions, water table challenges, environmental clearances, encroachments and technical problems that have historically also afflicted the Namma Metro. An accident at HBR Layout in 2023 also added to the project’s woes, resulting in a nine-month suspension.
