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Bengaluru's long-awaited Blue Line Metro on the 19-km KR Pura to Silk Board route along the Outer Ring Road is likely to enter the testing phase in October, Karnataka's Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on Friday. This section is part of Phase 2A of the Metro project, and construction has reached an advanced stage. However, work is still delayed at three important locations, which could affect the final timeline.
Bengaluru Metro's Blue Line Metro
After reviewing the progress of Metro works, Gowda said officials have been instructed to speed up construction at these pending spots so that trial runs can begin in October. He added that even after testing starts, it may take another 5 to 6 months to get the necessary approvals and clearances before the line can open for public use.
Still, the entire KR Pura-Silk Board corridor may not be ready for testing by October. Due to delays in civil work, especially around Marathahalli, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) may first begin trial runs only on the KR Pura to Marathahalli section. BMRCL has already started receiving trainsets for the Blue Line from BEML.
According to BMRCL sources, progress at places such as Baiyappanahalli depot connectivity, Marathahalli, Iblur, and Silk Board will decide when the corridor can finally open. Although girder launching at Marathahalli was completed in March, many related works are still ongoing.
Bengaluru Metro Pink Line
The minister also gave an update on the Pink Line. He set a new deadline of August 15 for the 7-km elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, which has already faced several delays. The 13.7-km underground stretch from Tavarekere to Nagawara is now expected to open only by March 2027, later than the earlier target of December 2026.
For other Metro projects, Gowda said the Hebbal to Kempegowda International Airport line may open by mid-2027, while the KR Pura to Hebbal section is expected by December 2027. Once the full 58-km Phase 2A and 2B network becomes operational, Bengaluru's Metro network could expand to nearly 175 km by March 2028.