Bengaluru Metro’s Orange Line Delayed Another Year As Double-Decker Design Raises Cost And Complexity

Bengaluru’s Phase 3 of Namma Metro, known as the Orange Line, is set to be delayed by at least a year following the decision to incorporate double-decker flyovers along parts of the alignment.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has confirmed that the redesign will also increase the project cost by around 5 per cent, according to The Hindu report.

On 10 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Yellow Line between RV Road and Bommasandra, while also laying the foundation stone for Phase 3, a Rs 15,611 crore expansion covering more than 44 km with 31 elevated stations.

The project is divided into two corridors: JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura (32.15 km) and Hosahalli to Kadabagere (12.5 km).

Although all statutory approvals, including Union Cabinet clearance in August 2024, are in place, officials say design modifications have slowed progress.

“The changes demand about 25 per cent more land for station structures as the increased height of the alignment necessitates additional road-widening measures,” one official was quoted as saying.

The project, originally slated for completion by 2029 or mid-2030, now has a revised deadline of May 2031. Tenders are expected to be floated by November 2025, with construction likely to commence by early 2026 in eight packages.

A senior BMRCL official noted, “We are incorporating double-decker flyovers along specific stretches of Phase 3 to address future road congestion. While this will add significant value by decongesting traffic and optimising space, it also means construction will take an additional year.”

Phase 3 will enhance connectivity with multiple interchanges to existing and upcoming lines, including the Green, Purple, Blue, Red and Pink routes.

Once operational, it is projected to carry 7.85 lakh passengers daily, extending metro coverage to 222.2 km, making Bengaluru’s network one of India’s largest.

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