Namma Metro Phase II Plagued by ₹14,000 Crore Cost Overrun, Decade-Long Delays.

Namma Metro's Phase II expansion is facing severe criticism for its sluggish pace of construction, with nearly a decade having passed since work commenced and a substantial portion of the planned network remaining incomplete. The project, vital for Bengaluru's increasingly congested roads, is now battling a staggering cost overrun of over ₹14,000 crore, with its estimated cost ballooning from ₹26,405 crore to ₹40,614 crore.

Of the 75 kilometers of new lines envisioned under Phase II, more than 40 kilometers are still not operational. This prolonged delay, coupled with other compounding factors, has exacerbated Bengaluru's already dire traffic situation. In 2016, the city had 7.7 million vehicles; that number has surged to 12 million today, intensifying congestion in the absence of a robust public transport alternative.

The Phase II project, sanctioned in February 2014, aimed to extend the existing Purple and Green Lines by 35 kilometers in four directions, and introduce two entirely new lines: the Yellow Line from RV Road to Bommasandra (19 km) and the Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara (21 km). The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has opened these extensions in a staggered manner.

The first stretch, Yelachenahalli to Silk Institute (6.3 km), was inaugurated in January 2021. This was followed by the Mysuru Road-Kengeri section in August 2021, and the KR Pura-Whitefield stretch (13 km) in March 2023. October 2023 saw the opening of two more sections: Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura (2.2 km) and Kengeri-Challaghatta on the Purple Line. The Green Line extension on Tumakuru Road, from Nagasandra to Madavara (3 km), opened in November 2024.

However, the new lines have faced significant hurdles. While the Yellow Line is technically ready, its operation has been delayed due to a shortage of coaches. After missing several deadlines, BMRCL officials now plan to launch the line initially with just three trains. The Pink Line, which includes a complex 13-kilometer tunnel network, has seen its completion target pushed back to 2026.

Multiple factors have contributed to these extensive delays, including protracted land acquisition processes, lags in floating tenders, design modifications, and financial difficulties that led construction companies to abandon work midway. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the project implementation issues.

A prime example of these challenges is the Yellow Line's double-decker section, which was not part of the original plan but was added at a much later stage from Ragigudda to Silk Board. On the Pink Line, the elevated section from Kalena Agrahara to Swagath Cross Road (7 km) witnessed a contractor abandoning the project due to financial woes. BMRCL had to appoint a new contractor after a significant delay, and eight years later, this section remains under construction.

The ballooning costs are attributed to a combination of factors: the delay in project execution, escalating land acquisition expenses, a 3-kilometer extension to the network, and the construction of new depots. The state cabinet recently approved an additional increase of ₹9,729 crore for Phase II, reflecting these rising expenditures.

Reports indicate that the Karnataka state government has urged Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, during his recent visit to Bengaluru, to approve the revised project cost for Phase II and also sanction Phase III of Namma Metro, which proposes an extension from Sarjapur to Hebbal.