Slow Track To KIA: Bengaluru's ₹14,788 Crore Blue Line Hit By Deadlines

The 58-km Namma Metro Blue Line linking Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) stands at 72% civil completion, facing revised operational deadlines. According to Union government data shared in Parliament, the corridor—costing ₹14,788 crore—will now open in phased segments: Silk Board to KR Puram by late 2026, Hebbal to KIA by mid-2027, and the lagging KR Puram–Hebbal section by late 2027. Delays have been attributed to land acquisition, tree clearances, traffic management, and safety overhauls following a tragic pier collapse in 2023. Meanwhile, Phase III's 45-km Orange Line has logged just 3.6% progress due to pending approvals for a state-proposed double-decker flyover, whereas Phase II’s 21-km Pink Line is targeted for a March 2027 completion.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.