Bengaluru Metro

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): Bengaluru Metro is set to extend the Yellow Line from Bommasandra to Attibele, moving the corridor closer to the Tamil Nadu border. This proposed 10.5 km extension could enhance metro access along the rapidly developing Hosur Road corridor while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are still deciding how to connect their metro systems.

Bengaluru Metro to move closer to Tamil Nadu border

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has finished a feasibility study for extending the Yellow Line beyond its current Bommasandra terminal. The planned elevated route will cover about 10.5 km up to Attibele and will include 9 stations. The state government has approved the proposal to move forward. BMRCL is expected to invite tenders for creating the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The extension will be built along the right side of Hosur Road (NH 44) and will serve several rapidly growing residential, industrial, and commercial areas between Bommasandra and Attibele.

Proposed stations

The nine-station alignment will include:

1. Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences
2. Chandapura Circle
3. Hale (Old) Chandapura
4. Thirumagondanahalli
5. Balagaranahalli
6. Attibele Industrial Area
7. Yadavanahalli
8. Attibele
9. Attibele Terminal

The first station at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences will be approximately 1.5 km from the existing Bommasandra terminal. Chandapura Circle will be about 1.8 km further along the proposed route. Several stations are expected to serve nearby areas. Thirumagondanahalli and Balagaranahalli will provide access to localities like Neralur, Chandapura, Masrur, and Suryanagar. Yadavanahalli station will also serve Jigala, Giddenahalli, and Krishnasagara. BMRCL plans to connect the stations with nearby neighborhoods through foot overbridges and subways where needed.

Separate plans for Bengaluru-Hosur metro link

This development occurs as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to discuss a metro connection between Bengaluru and Hosur. Tamil Nadu has proposed a 23 km metro corridor between Hosur and Bommasandra, which includes 12 stations. About 12 km of the proposed route will be in Karnataka, while the remaining 11 km will be in Tamil Nadu. However, this proposed cross-border connection faces technical and administrative challenges. BMRCL has found several differences between the two states’ metro systems:

• Traction: Bengaluru Metro uses 750V DC third-rail traction, while Tamil Nadu has proposed 25kV AC overhead electrification.

• Train configuration: Bengaluru Metro operates six-coach trains, while Tamil Nadu has suggested three-coach trainsets.

• Land acquisition: There is currently no clear process for acquiring land for the interstate project.

• Revenue sharing: The agreement on sharing fare revenue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is not finalised.

These differences complicate direct integration of the two systems.

Attibele to come up as interchange point

Instead of merging the two metro systems directly, BMRCL has proposed an alternative approach. In this plan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu could each build their metro lines up to their respective sides of the state border. The systems could connect through a 90-metre foot overbridge between the stations at Attibele. This would allow passengers to switch between the two metro networks without the trains needing to cross the state line.

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