The Centre has directed that the cost estimates of the Bangalore Metro phase 3A project from Hebbal to Sarjapura be examined by an expert agency before granting final approval.
The proposal will be taken up for sanction once the Karnataka Government submits a response following the expert review.
The decision was taken during a review meeting in Bengaluru on Friday chaired by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar along with state Cabinet ministers and senior officials from the Urban Development Department.
“On approval of Bangalore Metro phase 3A, at present about 75 km of Metro network is operational in Bengaluru and about 145 km of Metro network is under construction. Just a few months back, the central government has sanctioned 45 km of Metro phase-3 network at a cost of Rs 15,600 crore,” Khattar said.
He added, “The Government of Karnataka has submitted a proposal for phase 3A extending around 37 km at an estimated cost of about Rs 28,400 crore. The cost estimate of phase 3 A network needs to be examined by an expert agency… The project will be taken up for sanction by the Centre once a reply is received from the Government of Karnataka.”
The state Cabinet approved phase 3A, extending from Sarjapura to Hebbal under the Red Line, in December 2024, with the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted in June 2023.
The Union Urban Development Department granted initial approval on October 16, 2024, and the project now awaits final Union Cabinet approval.
The corridor spans 36.59 km, with 22.14 km being elevated (17 stations) and 14.45 km underground (11 stations), featuring 28 stations in total.
The line connects Sarjapura to Hebbal, passing through key areas like Carmelaram, Koramangala, Dairy Circle, and Basaveshwara Circle.
It includes five interchange stations: Ibbalur (Blue Line), Agara (Blue), Dairy Circle (Pink), KR Circle (Purple), and Hebbal (Blue and Orange).
Khattar also expressed satisfaction on the progress of various missions and informed that the revised cost estimate of the Bangalore Metro Phase 2 project will be examined for central approval once the proposal approved by the state Cabinet is received by the Centre.
The minister further suggested tackling the issues of legacy waste on priority, and emphasised the reuse of treated water, adding that it is the need of the hour for increased sustainability in urban areas.
He also underlined allowing higher Floor-Area Ratio (FAR) along mass transit corridors, which will help in reshaping cities, reducing road congestion and improving the use of public transport.
The meeting was attended by state ministers Byrathi Suresh (Urban Development and Town Planning), Rahim Khan (Municipal Administration), B Z Zameer Ahmad Khan (Housing), and K J George (Energy), besides senior officials.