A double-deck viaduct costing Rs 97bn ($US 1.18bn) will be built as part of the third phase of the Namma Metro programme in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), the capital of the southern state of Karnataka.
The project, approved by the state cabinet earlier this month, involves the construction of two new lines on top of existing structures: a 32.15km line from JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura, running along the western stretch of the Outer Ring Road; and a 12.5km line that will connect Kadabagere to Hosahalli along Magadi Road, bringing the total length of the viaducts to 44.65km.
The structures will carry metro lines on the top deck and road traffic on the lower level. The combined viaducts are likely to increase costs of Namma Metro’s third phase, known as the Orange Line, by around 5%, while the completion date has been pushed back from 2029 to 2031.
As part of the agreement between the federal and Karnataka governments, the former will meet the cost of the metro component, while the state government will finance half of the cost of the viaduct. The remainder will be raised by local urban development agencies (10%) and debt finance (40%). Karnataka has earmarked Rs 40bn in its 2025-26 budget for Namma Metro.
Construction tenders
Civil works are expected to begin early next year, with the project’s delivery agency, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC), planning to launch tenders in November for four construction packages covering the viaducts and stations.
The Orange Line will serve Bengaluru’s growing residential, industrial, educational, and commercial hubs. Total project cost is estimated at Rs 156bn, with approximately half of this amount expected to come from debt finance and the remainder through revenue generation, including the sale of station naming rights and advertising space.
When complete, the Orange Line is expected to carry 785,000 passengers a day, positioning Bengaluru as one the largest metro systems in India, with a network extending to 222.2km.
In August, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated Namma Metro’s second phase, the Yellow Line, which links RV Road to Bommasandra.
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