Bengaluru's Namma Metro to Extend to Tumakuru: Feasibility Study Reveals Plan

BENGALURU: Dreaming big and beyond Bengaluru, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has recently submitted a draft feasibility report to the state government, proposing to extend Namma Metro's Green Line from Madavara (on the outskirts of the city) to Tumakuru, approximately 2 hours by road.nnIf approved, this would become Karnataka's first inter-city Metro project. The proposed 59km corridor includes 25 elevated stations. The alignment begins near the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre in Madavara and passes through several urban pockets of Nelamangala taluk before reaching Dabaspet. In Tumakuru, the line covers both peripheral and core city areas, ending at Naganna Palya. The project aims to serve the Vasantha Narasapura Industrial Area.nnPreparing a long-distance track is not new for BMRCL, which is currently building Bengaluru's longest Metro line yet — 58km — from Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport via KR Pura and Hebbal. With Tumakuru increasingly emerging as an industrial suburb, there have been demands from the industry, politicians, and from within the government to extend Metro services to Tumakuru to boost economic activities.nnBMRCL undertook the feasibility study based on the state government's directive. Two funding models are on the table: A public-private partnership (PPP) model, estimated at Rs 20,650 crore, and a special purpose vehicle (SPV) model with joint funding from the state and central governments, estimated at Rs 18,670 crore. The draft report confirms the technical feasibility of the project, with some 15,000 passengers projected to use Metro services per hour in one direction — meeting the standard benchmarks.nnAs per the blueprint, initial operation will involve three-car trains running at an interval of 4-5 minutes. Two depots — one each in Nelamangala and Tumakuru — are proposed to facilitate the operations. By 2032, the corridor is projected to serve 2.8 lakh daily commuters, with ridership projected to hit the 5-lakh mark by 2061. A BMRCL official said the draft report indicates strong feasibility. 'Further steps will depend on the government's direction,' he added.nnScope for 250-acre real estate development: If the state approves the project under the PPP model, the consultancy that prepared the report has proposed real estate development in a 250-acre area near Metro stations. This includes both residential and commercial spaces, making the project more attractive for private investment. The state government and the private partner would need to work out a revenue-sharing model for these developments.nnReal estate development has been suggested near five key stations between Madavara and Nelamangala, which has already seen rapid urbanisation, and one in Tumakuru city. The total land required for the project is 470 acres, including land for real estate development.