BMRCL Scales Down Hebbal Transport Hub to 9 Acres, Drops Mega Project.

In a significant decision, a high-level committee led by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Monday approved just nine acres of land near Hebbal for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL). This allocation marks a substantial reduction from the 45 acres that BMRCL had consistently sought for its ambitious multi-modal transport hub project.

The decision comes despite strong advocacy from prominent citizens, including Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and former Infosys director Mohandas Pai, as well as political figures like Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje (representing Bengaluru North), Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan, and MLA S. Suresh Kumar. These individuals had emphasized the strategic importance of the full 45 acres to alleviate Bengaluru's severe traffic congestion.

Reversal of Stance and Allegations of Influence

BMRCL's unexpected scaling down of its land request is a notable reversal. For the past 15 months, the metro authority had steadfastly pursued the larger land parcel to build a comprehensive hub featuring a depot, parking facilities, and a crucial tri-junction connecting the upcoming airport metro line.

Reports suggest that powerful real estate groups may have exerted pressure on the government to curtail the transport hub project. Doubts about BMRCL securing the required land began to surface after a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on May 5. During that meeting, BBMP chief commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao and BBMP administrator Tushar Girinath were reportedly asked to rework the design of the proposed multi-modal hub, implicitly signaling a need to reduce land requirements.

The Original Vision and Land History

In March of last year, BMRCL had formally requested approximately 45.5 acres from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). This land, acquired by KIADB in Hebbal and Hebbal Amanikere villages of Bangalore North Taluk for the now-stalled Lake View Tourism Company Limited project (which involved 55.13 acres), was seen by BMRCL as ideal for a state-of-the-art multi-modal transport hub, multi-level car parking, a modern depot, and other essential infrastructure.

At Hebbal, BMRCL had envisioned the construction of three metro stations, strategically located to serve the Blue, Orange, and Red Lines, further underscoring the area's importance as a central transit point. The decision to proceed with only nine acres raises questions about the ultimate scope and effectiveness of the planned transport hub in addressing Bengaluru's growing connectivity challenges.