Krishna Byre Gowda Cautions Against Viewing Metro as Only Traffic Solution

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Saturday acknowledged mounting pressure from various quarters on him and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to extend the Namma Metro network to newer areas, but cautioned against treating metro rail as the only solution for Bengaluru's traffic congestion.

Speaking to reporters during an inspection of the underground Pink Line, Gowda addressed questions regarding expanding the metro towards the Tamil Nadu border. He stated that while the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is conducting feasibility studies for extending the network, the findings are still awaited.

Gowda noted that both he and the Chief Minister have been facing considerable pressure to expand metro connectivity across different locations. He stressed that metro rail should not be treated in isolation, advocating instead for suburban railway networks and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) to connect Bengaluru to its surrounding suburbs.

BMRCL has prepared plans to extend the Yellow Line from Bommasandra to Attibele on the Tamil Nadu border, featuring nine stations. Currently, the operational Namma Metro network spans 96.1 km, with another 79.4 km under construction. Additionally, a 44.65 km stretch under Phase 3 has received approval, while another 37.8 km remains under approval.

Beyond Phase 3, BMRCL has drawn up expansion proposals covering an additional 138.9 km in Phase 4. This includes four key extensions: Bidadi to Challaghatta (14.6 km), Silk Institute to Harohalli (24 km), Bommasandra to Attibele (10.5 km), and Madavara to Kunigal Cross (10.8 km), alongside a new 79-km line connecting Kalena Agrahara to Kadugodi Tree Park.

Other routes under consideration include Kadabagere to Tavarekere along Magadi Road (6.6 km), KR Puram to Hoskote (16.3 km), and Doddajala to Devanahalli (10 km), where feasibility studies are presently underway. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara has separately pushed for extending the Madavara line by 56.9 km to Tumakuru under a public-private partnership model estimated at Rs 20,000 crore.

Gowda previously stated that the Bengaluru metro network is expected to eventually expand to roughly 500 km.