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A technical study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has raised concerns over the Karnataka government's plan to build double-decker corridors that combine elevated roads with Bengaluru Metro Phase-3. The study says this model could reduce public transport use, increase project costs, and lead to higher fuel consumption and pollution.
IISc Findings on Bengaluru Metro
IISc transportation expert Professor Ashish Verma presented the findings on June 28. The study is based on transport modelling by the IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab and a technical report submitted to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in January 2026. It compared two future scenarios for 2041, one with only Metro Phase-3 and another with both the Metro and elevated roads.
According to the study, adding extra road capacity next to metro lines could encourage more people to use private vehicles rather than public transport, reducing the benefits expected from the metro project.
The report estimates that the metro's share of daily travel could fall from 28.1% to 26.7% if the double-decker model is built. Bus usage may also decline from 29.24% to 22.84%. At the same time, car usage could rise from 3.65% to 7.45%, while two-wheeler use may increase from 18.31% to 19.59%.
The assessment also predicts that Metro Phase-3 could lose around 11,000 passengers every day. Although this number is not very large, the report says lower ridership could reduce fare income and encourage greater dependence on private vehicles over time.
Professor Verma said increasing road capacity alongside metro corridors may go against Bengaluru's long-term goal of promoting public transport.
Karnataka Government to Support the Double-Decker Model
Despite these concerns, the Karnataka government continues to support the double-decker model. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar believes it will help reduce traffic congestion and overcome the city's limited road-widening options. The plan includes about 44.6 km of double-decker corridors along Outer Ring Road West and Magadi Road. The state has also approved a 37-km elevated road project costing around ₹9,700 crore.
Since the proposal changes the approved Metro Phase-3 design, it requires fresh approval from the Central government. Meanwhile, BMRCL has invited tenders for 18.5 km of Phase-3 civil works, but the contracts have not yet been awarded.