Namma Metro's Orange Line Pushed Back a Year for New Double-Decker Corridors.

The third phase of the Namma Metro project, known as the Orange Line, is expected to be delayed by at least a year after the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) decided to add double-decker flyovers to its design. Officials confirmed that this change will also increase the project’s total cost by approximately 5%.

The Orange Line is a crucial infrastructure project valued at over ₹15,611 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project on August 10, 2025, the same day he inaugurated the new Yellow Line.

The new double-decker flyover design, while intended to alleviate future road congestion, has created a new set of challenges. An official noted that the design requires about 25% more land for station structures and necessitates additional road-widening measures.

While the project received all necessary statutory approvals, including Union Cabinet clearance in August 2024, the design changes have slowed its progress. The original completion target of 2029 or mid-2030 has been pushed back to May 2031. Officials estimate that the project will require about five and a half years to complete once construction begins.

BMRCL expects to issue tenders for the project by November 2025, with groundwork likely to start by December 2025 or January 2026. The construction will be divided into at least eight separate packages.

Extensive Connectivity and Scope

The Orange Line will span more than 44 km with 31 elevated stations, serving some of Bengaluru’s most densely populated residential, industrial, and commercial hubs. The project consists of two corridors: one stretching 32.15 km from J.P. Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura, and a second 12.5 km line from Hosahalli to Kadabagere.

This phase is designed to enhance connectivity by providing multiple interchange points with existing and future metro lines. Key connection points include:

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  Green Line: Peenya and J.P. Nagar stations

  
  


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  Purple Line: Mysuru Road Station

  
  


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  Blue Line: A future connection at Hebbal to the airport line

  
  


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  Red Line: Another future connection at Hebbal to the Sarjapur line

  
  

According to BMRCL, the Orange Line is projected to serve 7.85 lakh passengers per day. Once operational, it will expand Bengaluru’s total metro network to 222.2 km, making it one of the largest in India.