Hebbal-Sarjapur Metro corridor awaits nod amid design objections

The proposed 37-km Red Line of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which aims to link Sarjapur in the city’s south-east to Hebbal in the north, is yet to receive clearance from the Union Cabinet, with technical objections reportedly holding up the process. The concerns largely centre on the State government’s decision to adopt a full-length double-decker design for the corridor.

The ₹28,405-crore Hebbal-Sarjapur line was cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet in December 2024 but requires final approval from the Centre. P.C. Mohan, MP representing Bengaluru Central, has said that the State’s across-the-board policy mandating double-decker structures for future elevated Metro lines has delayed the project’s progress at the national level.

According to him, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has flagged reservations about constructing an integrated rail-and-road flyover system along the entire stretch. “While a double-decker configuration may be suitable at select traffic intersections, extending it across the full corridor could lead to the creation of parallel road infrastructure. This may inadvertently promote private vehicle usage, diminish Metro patronage, and dilute the broader objectives of mass rapid transit systems, including reduced congestion and lower vehicular emissions,” he said.

Official sources said that MoHUA is examining the proposal in light of national benchmarks relating to commuter safety, operational practicality and long-term social returns before granting approval. The Centre is expected to take a final view only after the design is revisited and its feasibility substantiated.

Optimise urban infrastructure

In 2024, the Karnataka government introduced a policy requiring all new elevated Metro corridors to incorporate double-decker structures to make better use of constrained road space in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar has consistently advocated this approach, arguing that it would optimise urban infrastructure in a rapidly expanding metropolis.

The Red Line is planned to pass through key localities such as Agara, Koramangala, Dairy Circle, Bellandur, St. John’s Hospital, NIMHANS, Central College, Cunningham Road and Mehkri Circle. Of the total alignment, nearly 16.8 km from Koramangala to Hebbal is proposed to run underground. The elevated section between Sarjapur and Koramangala 3rd Block will include 15 stations, while the underground stretch from Koramangala 2nd Block to Veterinary College will have 11 stations.

Land acquisition constitutes a major share of the overall cost. BMRCL estimates that approximately ₹8,080 crore will be required to acquire 161.65 acres of land, including 55.69 acres of private property near Sarjapur Circle earmarked for a depot.

Tentative deadline

Although the tentative completion deadline has been set for December 2030, officials suggest the timeline could extend to 2031 depending on when Central approval is secured.