India: Bengaluru Metro Rail Project

Transport / Urban public transport

The population of Bengaluru grew 49% from 2000 to 2018. Migration from other areas in Karnataka and elsewhere, driven by work opportunities, has accounted for about 30% of that growth. It is expected that the population of Bengaluru city will reach 16.2 million by 2030, from about 11.4 million in 2018. The rapid pace of urbanization has not been without problems, which include urban sprawl, unplanned and/or sporadic development, and inadequate infrastructure. This has resulted in congestion, declining mobility for people and goods, high land prices, deteriorating infrastructure, and environmental degradation. These impacts reduce productivity, inhibit economic efficiency, and negatively affect quality of life. Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has slowed economic activity in the city, the trend of population growth and urbanization is expected to continue.

Rapid population growth and urbanization, a lack of integrated urban planning, and lagging transport network development have contributed to Bengaluru being one of the most congested cities in the world. Peak hour traffic congestion in the city is worse than in other major cities in India, including Delhi and Mumbai, and the cost of congestion in the city is estimated at $6 billion per year. Vast urban sprawl is lengthening the average travel distance and time for commuters, especially for those travelling by private vehicle, while average travel speeds have been steadily declining.

Metro rail is the newest form of public transport in the city. Established in 2005 as a special purpose vehicle jointly held by the Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) constructed and operates the Bengaluru Metro. Phase 1 of Bengaluru Metro, which is 42.3 km long, was completed and became fully operational in 2017.14 It comprises the East-West (Purple Line) and North-South (Green Line) lines. Phase 2 will extend the Purple and Green lines and construct two new corridors (Pink and Yellow lines) with a total length of 72.1 km. Phase 2 is being commissioned progressively, beginning in 2020, and will become fully operational by 2024.15 Phases 2A and 2B are new phases planned as another two new corridors (expressed in blue and light blue respectively in project map). Developing metro rail connectivity along the ORR and NH-44 toward KIA will significantly improve the public transport situation and reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.

Population growth in Bengaluru city creates challenges related to urbanization, especially traffic congestion, decreased mobility, and poor quality of life. To become a livable and inclusive city that balances economic growth with environmental and social equality considerations, Bengaluru needs to adopt a multidimensional approach covering urban planning, urban development, and public transport development. To meet the development objectives of the city, the state government plans to (i) expand and improve public mass transit systems for the city, including metro rail, suburban rail, and bus transport; and (ii) pursue TOD, an urban development model to realign growth and densities along sustainably developed mass transit corridors to create higher density, compact, mixed use, mixed income, safe, and resource efficient neighborhoods. TOD aims to raise land values along these corridors, generating capital revenues for the state government to meet the city's long-term investment needs.

New metro lines completed

Urban development plans and implementation frameworks based on transit-oriented development principles and multimodal integration plan developed for Bengaluru.

Capacity of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited and relevant state line agencies improved in transit-oriented development and multimodal integration