Bengaluru Metro Phase-2 Cost Jumps To Rs 40,000 Crore, 52 Per Cent Rise From Original Estimate

The cost of Bengaluru Metro’s Phase-2 network, spanning 75.06 km, has escalated to nearly Rs 40,000 crore, marking a 52 per cent increase from the original estimate proposed in 2014.

Initially approved in 2014 for a 72 km stretch at a cost of Rs 26,405 crore, the project was slated for completion by 2019. An additional 3 km was later added, and by 2021, the cost was revised to Rs 30,695 crore. Notably, this figure does not encompass the Outer Ring Road Line (Phase-2A) and the Airport Line from KR Pura to KIA (Phase-2B).

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) recently submitted a proposal with the revised cost to the State Finance Department for approval through the Urban Development Department (UDD).

UDD officials indicated that the BMRCL proposal has been forwarded to the Finance Department for approval. A senior official pointed out that the primary reason for the cost escalation is the original delay. “Phase-II was supposed to be completed by 2019. Five years later, the entire network is still not ready. The pandemic struck after the original deadline. If that had been adhered to, this huge escalation would not have happened,” he said. He also noted that initial delays in land acquisition significantly hindered the project’s progress.

A BMRCL official highlighted that the Reach-2 extension on the West, originally planned to terminate at Kengeri, has been extended to Challaghatta. Additionally, a new depot has been added on the eastern side at Kadugodi (Whitefield).

The acquisition of an additional 44 hectares of land, beyond the original plan, has driven the compensation component to nearly Rs 6,300 crore, an increase of Rs 438 crore. “We have acquired 128.36 hectares of land against the originally planned 84.33 hectares,” he explained, reports Economic Times.

BMRCL has also undertaken road-widening work near many of its stations, including the stretch from Baiyappanahalli to Kadugodi as well as Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute. Additional land was also acquired for the Reach-5 line (R V Road-Bommasandra).

After receiving approval from the State Finance Department, the proposal will need to be submitted to the Centre’s Urban Development department for final approval.