Namma Metro Sarjapur-Hebbal Line Route and Stations
Revised DPR cuts cost, tweaks alignment and pushes deadline to 2033; work likely to begin in 2027 pending central approval
Bengaluru: After months of uncertainty linked to the proposed tunnel road project, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s Sarjapur–Hebbal corridor popularly called the Red Line has regained momentum.
According to the reports, while central approval is still a few months away, the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) offers clarity on the project’s alignment, cost and timeline.
The 37.8-km corridor, part of Phase 3A, was first announced in the 2023–24 state budget. The DPR was prepared by June 2024, cleared by the state cabinet in January 2025 and forwarded to the Centre soon after. However, concerns over the high cost ₹776 crore per km, the highest for Namma Metro put the project on hold.
Following the Centre’s directive, BMRCL appointed global consultancy Systra to review and optimise the DPR. Meanwhile, the state pushed ahead with a parallel 16.75-km tunnel road project between Silk Board and Hebbal, raising fears that the metro line could be sidelined.
Systra submitted its report in late 2025, leading to revisions in February 2026. The updated DPR was resubmitted in April, with approval expected by October. Construction is now targeted to begin by May 2027.
Key changes include a reduction in cost from ₹28,405 crore to ₹25,999 crore, a slight increase in length, trimming of the underground stretch, removal of the Veterinary College station and a revised completion deadline of April 2033—two years later than initially planned.
Once completed, the Red Line is expected to be one of Bengaluru’s busiest corridors, connecting Sarjapur’s IT hub with HSR Layout, Koramangala, the central business district and Hebbal. It is projected to handle over 6.4 lakh daily passengers.
The line will run elevated along Sarjapura Road and Outer Ring Road before going underground from Koramangala, passing key junctions including Dairy Circle, Nimhans, KR Circle and Palace Road. It will turn elevated again near Ganganagar and continue along Ballari Road to Hebbal, crossing major transport corridors with dedicated infrastructure.
The project is seen as a crucial step in easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity across Bengaluru’s busiest stretches.
