Urban Connectivity Redefined: A Closer Look at Bangalore’s Namma Metro
The Silicon City of India, Bangalore, is a city thriving with innovation, young professionals, and bustling streets. The annals of the city today are decorated with pulsating tech hubs and SEZs. Every year thousands of young and hopeful people migrate to the city with the aspiration to live out their dreams. However, this has led to incredible pressure on the existing infrastructure in the city.
This is because the increased population has led to a surge in traffic snags and congestion, leading to widespread pleas for an efficient, affordable, and reliable public system of transportation. As a result of this, the Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka came together to establish Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited in 2006 to supervise the construction of Namma Metro.
The second-largest metro network in the country, Namma Metro, which translates to ‘Our Metro’ in Kannada, is inarguably the symbol of a new Bangalore, one that is seamlessly connected to ensure convenience and progress. While commencement of the construction started in 2007, after the first stone had been laid by then prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the first phase of the metro became finally operational in 2011.
Phase 1 spanned 42.30 km, with the first section connecting Baiyyappanahalli to Mahatama Gandhi Road. This phase included the construction of two lines, with the first line, popularly known as the Purple Line, spanning 18.10 km and connecting Baiyyappanahalli to Mysore Road with 17 stations. Subsequently, the second line of Phase 1, spanning 24.20 km with 24 stations, connected Nagasandra in the northwest to Yelachenahalli in the south.
Phase 2 of Namma Metro spans 73.921 km, with construction commencing in September 2015, with 62 stations in total. This phase consists of both extending the existing two lines and constructing two new lines. Recently, plans to further enhance the connectivity and transit experience were announced to be underway by expanding the Namma Metro lines even further. The new line, estimated to span 37 km, is proposed to connect Sarjapur to Hebbal.
First mentioned in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan 2020, estimated to cost Rs 16,543 crore, it is envisioned to connect the tech hubs of Bangalore easily, making transit a breeze for commuters. While the previous extensions of the metro were crafted to target specific areas, this route endeavoured to reduce the heretofore extant congestion often experienced on this stretch.
According to the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), the elevated section extends from the IT corridor near Sarjapur to Jakkasandra before transitioning to a surface route in Koramangala, eventually going underground within the city. Additionally, the extension of the Ballari Road route from Gangenahalli to Hebbal is underway, offering a direct connection to Kempegowda International Airport.
The Sarjapur-Hebbal corridor, already integrated into the existing metro network, intersects with the Blue and Pink lines, streamlining travel for commuters. It is expected to have a significant impact on reducing traffic congestion in key areas of Bengaluru. Furthermore, the improvement of Ballari Road, coupled with initiatives like the Bangalore Airport High-Speed Rail and the Steel Bridge project, complements these advancements.
