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In August, BEML began manufacturing prototype driverless trains for the BMRCL. The Rs 3,177 crore contract includes 53 trainsets, to be delivered across various phases.
The following Hebbal to KR Pura section will be completed by December 2026.(Photo: The Hindu)
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has confirmed that the first section of the Blue Line, connecting Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Terminal to Hebbal, will open between June and September 2026.
This will be followed by the Hebbal to KR Pura section, expected to be completed by December 2026, as per Money Control.
BMRCL Managing Director, M Maheshwar Rao, explained that construction is progressing faster on the KIA-Hebbal stretch compared to the Hebbal-KR Pura section, so the airport link will open first.
This decision will help passengers travel to the airport more quickly and avoid extra toll charges. However, plans for a multi-modal hub at Hebbal, on land previously acquired for a tourism project, are still unclear.
The new Metro line will feature an open web girder over the Indian Railways track near Jakkur, similar to the one at Byappanahalli. Work is progressing on this, although construction near the Indian Air Force station in Yelahanka has been delayed due to restrictions.
The Metro station at Bettahalasur is still under discussion, with Embassy Group set to fund its construction for Rs 140 crore. However, civil work on the Hebbal-KR Pura stretch has been delayed by almost six months after a tragic accident in January 2023, when two lives were lost due to a collapse during construction.
Progress on the Blue Line is complicated by various obstacles, including flyovers, underpasses, and utility lines at several locations. Tendering for the station’s architectural finishing work has not yet been completed.
Meanwhile, BEML is expected to deliver the train sets from December 2025. The new trains will feature luggage racks and advanced safety features, including fire detection, derailment sensors, and a dynamic route map display.
The full Outer Ring Road Metro corridor, connecting Central Silk Board to KR Pura, is expected to be completed by June 2026, with other sections of the Blue and Pink Lines opening in phases. The Yellow Line is set to open by early 2025.
