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The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has stated that it will stick to its planned timeline for completing the Blue Line connecting Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), even though the project is only 72.75% complete so far.
Bengaluru's Silk Board to Kempegowda Airport Metro
According to BMRCL, the Silk Board-KR Puram section is expected to open by the end of 2026. The Hebbal-Kempegowda International Airport stretch is planned to be operational by mid-2027, while the KR Puram-Hebbal section is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The clarification came after the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on July 30 that the 58.19-km Metro project under Phases 2A and 2B was 72.75% complete as of June. The ministry also said that the 72.09-km Phase 2 Metro project had reached 95.70% completion.
Bengaluru's Blue Line Metro Facing Delays Due to Several Challenges
The 58-km Blue Line, being built at an estimated cost of Rs 14,788 crore, has faced several delays since construction began. Work on the Silk Board-KR Puram elevated section started in August 2021, while construction of the KR Puram-Airport stretch began in early 2022.
Among all sections, the KR Puram-Hebbal stretch has been the most difficult to complete. The project has been slowed down by land acquisition problems, delays in tree clearance, heavy traffic along the Outer Ring Road, pending approvals, and a shortage of workers. Construction was also affected after a pier collapse in January 2023, in which a woman and her young son lost their lives. Following the accident, BMRCL introduced stricter safety measures.
Although BMRCL had planned to begin trial runs on the Silk Board-KR Puram section in October, some important works are still pending. These include connecting the line to the Baiyappanahalli depot and completing civil construction at stations such as Silk Board, Iblur, and Marathahalli. Despite these challenges, BMRCL has maintained that the project will be completed as per its announced schedule.