India’s First Underground Metro In Bangalore

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has proposed to build an underground metro car depot at Baiyappanahalli, Bengaluru. This is the first time in India that the design of an underground metro depot has been proposed.
The depot will have a total of 28 stabling lines (14 stabling lines below the ground and 14 lines at grade) are expected to serve trains operating on the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
Besides the ongoing building work of the Phase II-B project, the BMRCL is also working on the Phase III project.
The detailed project report (DPR) for Phase III has been submitted to the Government of Karnataka and is under consideration.
Furthermore, the BMRCL is planning to extend the Phase II-B project (Nagawara – RTO) up to K.R. Puram to provide connectivity between the newly developed areas of Outer Ring Road and Electronic City via Namma Metro. This extension will be done in two phases – Phase I from Nagawara to HSR Layout and Phase II from HSR Layout to K.R. Puram.
The DPR for both these extensions has been prepared and submitted for approval by the Government of Karnataka. The BMRCL has set aside Rs.300 crore for Phase I and Rs.500 crore for Phase II of the extension project.
“Such a design was finalized as the terrain on the side of the railway line is much lower than at Old Madras Road. Keeping in mind the train maintenance requirements, the work will be taken up in the second phase. Our immediate plan is to build a stabling yard on the vacant land in the same depot,” said a senior BMRCL official.
“Once the DPRs are approved by the Government of Karnataka, work can begin on both these extensions simultaneously,” added the official.
The BMRCL is already in the process of awarding tenders for Phase I. The work on Phase II will start after the tenders are awarded.