Bengaluru-Hosur Interstate Metro Line Feasibility Still Under Review, No Final Decision Yet

On 27 August, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials met with representatives from Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to discuss the proposed extension of Bengaluru’s metro line to Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

However, BMRCL clarified on 28 August that no final decisions have been made, as the detailed feasibility report (DFR) for the project is still incomplete.

According to a senior BMRCL official, Chennai Metro officials presented the technical aspects of the project, noting that the DFR is nearing completion.

“Decisions regarding funding for the metro line will be made only after the DFR is finalised,” a BMRCL official stated, emphasising that nothing concrete was decided during the meeting.

However, uncertainty remains about the financial aspects of the project, particularly how costs will be shared between the two states. Senior officials suggested that Karnataka might not contribute financially, as the project originated from Tamil Nadu’s side, reports The Hindu.

The proposal to extend Bengaluru’s Namma Metro line to Hosur, an industrial hub just across the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, follows closely on the heels of Tamil Nadu's announcement of plans to build an international airport in Hosur.

Hosur is home to more than 500,000 people and around 3,500 industries, including both small and medium-sized enterprises and major companies such as Ashok Leyland, TVS, and Titan.

Many homegrown EV companies like Ather, Ola Electric and Simple Energy have already set up manufacturing units in the Hosur-Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri region. 

With increasing demand for a second airport in Bengaluru, and the Karnataka government actively scouting for land, the prospect of an international airport in Hosur with direct metro connectivity from Bengaluru’s IT corridor has caused concern in Karnataka. Officials fear it could undermine Bengaluru's own second airport project and potentially divert investment from the city.

Kempegowda International Airport, located on the northern outskirts of Bengaluru, is significantly distant from the city’s IT corridor in the southeast, whereas Hosur is much closer, making the metro extension a potentially attractive proposition for commuters.

CMRL, meanwhile, has been actively exploring the feasibility of extending the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) line from Bommasandra to Hosur via Attibele. The proposed extension spans 23 kilometres, with 11 kilometres in Tamil Nadu and 12 kilometres in Karnataka. The line is expected to feature 12 metro stations and a depot, significantly enhancing transportation infrastructure between the two regions.

The proposed Hosur Metro line is planned to connect with the upcoming Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro. The 18.82-kilometre Yellow Line, scheduled to be operational by the end of this year, will connect R V Road station with Bommasandra, significantly improving connectivity to areas in south Bengaluru, particularly those hosting major IT and biotech companies.

The initiative marks the first step towards establishing south India’s first inter-state metro connection, which is expected to enhance public transportation in the tech capital.

However, the project’s future remains uncertain, pending the completion of the DFR and final agreements between the involved parties.