The Pink Line of Namma Metro is under construction and will form part of the metro rail network for the city of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The 21.25 km (13.20 mi) line connects Kalena Agrahara station (previously named Gottigere) on Bannerghatta Road in the south with Nagawara station on Outer Ring Road in the north. The Pink Line is mostly underground (13.92 km (8.65 mi)) but also has a 6.98 km (4.34 mi) elevated section and a 0.48 km (0.30 mi) at-grade (surface) section. There are 18 stations on the line, including 12 underground and 6 elevated ones.[2] Pink Line will have an interchange with the Purple Line at MG Road station. It will also have interchanges with the Yellow line at Jayadeva Hospital station and with the Blue Line at Nagawara. Both these lines are under construction.[3][4]
| Pink Line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other name(s) | Namma Metro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | Namma Metro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Under Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Bangalore, Karnataka, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | bmrc.co.in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Metro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | Namma Metro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depot(s) | Kothanur | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Planned opening | Phase 1 - December 2025 [1] Phase 2 - December 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 21.25 km (13.20 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | Elevated, At Grade and Underground | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The entire line is planned to open in two phases where the first phase, covering a total distance of 7.5km stretch (Kalena Agrahara - Tavarekere), is expected to be operational around September 2025, whereas the second phase, covering the remaining distance of 13.8km stretch (Dairy Circle - Nagawara) is expected to be operational around June 2026 (along with Phase 2A of Blue Line). [5][6]
History
editIn 2007, as follow up to the Metro Phase that was about to begin construction then, RITES had recommended several mono-rail routes totaling 60 km (37 mi). These recommendations were made as Government of Karnataka requested a survey of feeder routes for Phase l of metro that was to begin construction. One of the routes was entirely on Bannerghatta Road from Bannerghatta National Park up to its northern end at Hosur Road (near Adugodi).[7] At that stage, Bannerghatta Road was not expected to have high growth and dense population, hence the recommendation for Monorail. However, by 2010 itself, it became apparent that Bannerghatta Road would need a higher capacity system than a monorail. Also, Karnataka government did not favor a monorail system and preferred expansion of the Metro system. Accordingly, for its Phase ll, BMRC had requested DMRC for a DPR for the route between[8] Bannerghatta to Yelahanka via:
- Jayadeva Underpass, Hosur Road, Brigade Road, MG Road,
- Kamaraj Road, Tannery Road, Nagavara Junction (along Outer Ring Road), Sahakara Nagar, Vidyaranyapura to Yelahanka.
- Jayamahal Extension, RT Nagar, Nagavara Junction (along Outer Ring Road), Sahakara Nagar to Yelahanka.
The DPR had noted that the Metro Alignment may have to go underground after Jayadeva flyover (along Bannerghatta Road) up to Nagawara junction (along Outer Ring Road). The remaining portion could be elevated.
Planning
editSince there were plans for a line along Outer Ring Road and also the possibility that a link to Airport may have to be routed along Airport Road (passing Yelahanka), BMRC opted to terminate the Pink Line in Phase ll at Nagawara.
Land requirement was estimated at 50 hectares (120 acres) and Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) was tasked with acquiring land on behalf of BMRC. A total of 690 trees were to be cut to build the line (438 trees for the elevated section and 252 trees for the underground stretch).[9]
On 14 July 2017, BMRC unveiled the alignment of the 13.92 km (8.65 mi) underground section of the line. The alignment included a modification from the original plan - Cantonment metro station had been proposed to be constructed on Indian Railways land next to Cantonment railway station. Due to technicalities (steep gradient between Shivajinagar and Cantonment, sharp curve past the old location of Cantonment Station, construction below built-up structures, difficulty acquiring land and very high costs of demolishing several properties in the area), BMRC opted to shift Cantonment Metro Station.[10] Cantonment Metro Station would instead be built under a playground belonging to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), near Bamboo Bazaar.[3][11][12]
This was resented by sections of the public as the new location would be further away from the entrance of Cantonment station. SWR is however planning new suburban platforms on railways land that is towards the Metro station. A skywalk or pedestrian subway is being planned to connect the Metro station to Cantonment Railway Station.[13]
The MG Road station on the Pink Line is to be located under Kamaraj Road and will serve as an interchange station with the Purple Line.[3]
Tendering
editDue to long underground section with tunneling in difficult geology, the cost of the Pink Line was expected to be high. Total cost estimates for the line were ₹11,014 crore (US$1.3 billion) in March 2017 (most expensive line in Phase ll).[14][15] BMRC initially floated tenders for the construction of the 13.9 km (8.6 mi) underground section in four packages during June 2017. However, all bids received were too high (nearly 70% higher).[16][17]
| Initial
Tendering |
Estimated
by BMRC |
Bids Received (₹ /crores) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L&T | ITD-Cem | Afcons | Gülermak | ||
| Package-1 | 1268.90 | 2337.93 | 2223.40^ | 2311.34 | |
| Package-2 | 1325.97 | 2333.71 | 2349.70 | 2311.11 | 2219.86^ |
| Package-3 | 1334.83 | 2237.58^ | 2373.35 | 2361.32 | 2341.32 |
| Package-4 | 1117.86 | 1872.47^ | 2010.95 | 1994.41 | |
| Total | 5047.56 | 4571.29* | 8933.45 | 8906.78 | 8866.93 |
| *L&T bid for only two packages; ^Lowest Bid. | |||||
Since bids were too high, all tenders for the underground section had been canceled by BMRC on 26 March 2018. There was speculation of collusion as bids were similar and each bidder had quoted lowest for one package, thus all four might get to be awarded one package each.
The second round of tendering resulted in bids that were closer to estimates by BMRC and were awarded to three firms during February–November period, 2019. One of the firms (L&T) won two bids.[18] The total awarded tunneling tenders for the underground sections was ₹5,925.95 crores (appx US$812 million).
| Pink Line | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tendering | Section | Length | Successful Bid /Cost | Contractor | Award |
| Reach 6 Elevated | Kalena Agrahara - Dairy Circle | 7.50 km (4.66 mi) | ₹364.87 crore (US$44 million) | GR Infraprojects | 03 Aug 2021 |
| Reach 6 UG Pkg-1 | Dairy Circle - Langford Town | 3.65 km (2.27 mi) | ₹1,526.33 crore (US$218 million) | Afcons | 06 Nov 2019 |
| Reach 6 UG Pkg-2 | Rashtriya Military School - Shivajinagar | 2.76 km (1.71 mi) | ₹1,329.14 crore (US$160 million) | Larsen & Toubro | 28 Feb 2019 |
| Reach 6 UG Pkg-3 | Shivajinagar - Tannery Road | 2.88 km (1.79 mi) | ₹1,299.23 crore (US$160 million) | Larsen & Toubro | 28 Feb 2019 |
| Reach 6 UG Pkg-4 | Tannery Road - Nagawara North Ramp | 4.59 km (2.85 mi) | ₹1,771.25 crore (US$253 million) | ITD-Cem | 06 Nov 2019 |
| Kothanur Depot | ₹150.83 crore (US$18 million) | ISGEC Heavy Engineering | 09 July 2020 | ||
| Tunnel Ventilation System & Environmental Control System | ₹202.80 crore (US$24 million) | Blue Star | 06 Sep 2022 | ||
| Electrical & Mechanical | ₹186.88 crore (US$22 million) | Blue Star | 06 Sep 2022 | ||
| Rolling Stock (96 Coaches) | ₹959.04 crore (US$110 million) | BEML | 08 Aug 2023 | ||
| Total | 21.25 km (13.20 mi) | ₹7,760.37 crore (US$930 million) | |||
Construction
editElevated Section
In March 2017, BMRC had floated tender for construction of the 7.5 km (4.7 mi) elevated section between Kalena Agrahara (previously Gottigere) and Tavarekere (previously Swagat Cross) stations for construction of the elevated section of Pink Line with viaduct, five stations and depot entry line to Kothanur depot.[19][20] The tender was awarded to Simplex Constructions for 578.70 crores on 8 September 2017.[21]
Due to very slow progress by Simplex, their tender was canceled and a fresh tender was called for the remaining works in February 2021. GR Infra was the lowest bidder and the tender was awarded to them in July, 2021.
Underground Section
Pre-tunneling construction work and piling for stations began in May 2019 by L&T. Tunnel boring using TBMs began in August–September 2020 by L&T with two TBMs. L&T uses four TBMs named Urja, Avni, Vindhya and Lavi. Two TBMs (Avni and Lavi) are used for tunnel boring southwards from Shivajinagar towards Rashtriya Military School. The other two TBMs (Urja and Vindhya) are used for boring southwards from Cantonment to Shivajinagar after which they will be shifted back to Cantonment to bore tunnels northwards towards Tannery road.
Tunnel boring work by Afcons with three TBMs (Varada, Rudra and Vamika) on the section between Rashtriya Military School and Dairy Circle began during March–June 2021 period.
ITD-Cem began tunnel works during June–August 2021 period on the Venkateshpura-Nagawara section.
The underground part of the Pink Line in Namma Metro is almost finished, with 95% completion between Tannery Road and Nagawara that stretches 13.76kms between two underground points. As per latest updates from the BMRCL officials, the elevated section is expected to be operational by September 2025, whereas the underground section is expected to be operational by June 2026. [22][23]
Funding
editIn May 2017, BMRC received in-principle approval from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund construction of the Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara line through a ₹3,700 crore (US$440 million) loan.[24] The BMRC secured an agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on 4 June 2019 to receive a soft loan of ₹2,255.14 crore (US$270 million) to be repaid over a period of 25 years.[25] The line will also be funded by the Central and State Governments.[26]
Stations
editThe line will have a total of 18 stations. The northern end of the line, which is underground, has 12 underground stations and the southern end, which is elevated, has 6 elevated stations.
Interchanges
editPassenger interchange facilities, connecting to other metro and railway lines, will be provided at the following stations:
- Nagawara (Connects to the Blue Line, which runs from Central Silk Board to KIAL Terminals)
- Cantonment Railway Station (Connects to the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station)
- Mahatma Gandhi Road (Connects to the Purple Line, which runs from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta)
- Dairy Circle (Connects to the proposed Red Line, which runs from Hebbala to Sarjapura)
- Jayadeva Hospital (Connects to the Yellow Line, which runs from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road to Bommasandra)
- JP Nagar 4th Phase (Connects to the proposed Orange Line, which runs from JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura)
| Pink Line | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Station Name | Opening[27] | Connections | Station Layout | Platform Level Type | |
| English | Kannada | |||||
| Phase 2 - December 2026 | ||||||
| 1 | Nagawara | ನಾಗವಾರ | December 2026 |  Blue Line (Under Construction)
|
Underground | Island & Side |
| 2 | Kadugundanahalli | ಕಾಡುಗುಂಡನಹಳ್ಳಿ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 3 | Venkateshpura | ವೆಂಕಟೇಶಪುರ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 4 | Tannery Road | ಟ್ಯಾನರಿ ರಸ್ತೆ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 5 | Pottery Town | ಪಾಟರಿ ಟೌನ್ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 6 | Cantonment Railway Station | ದಂಡು ರೈಲ್ವೇ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ | December 2026 |  Bengaluru Cantonment
|
Underground | Island |
| 7 | Shivajinagar | ಶಿವಾಜಿನಗರ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 8 | Mahatma Gandhi Road | ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ ಗಾಂಧಿ ರಸ್ತೆ | December 2026 | Purple Line
|
Underground | Island & Side |
| 9 | National Military School | ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಸ್ಯೆನಿಕ ಶಾಲೆ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 10 | Langford Town | ಲ್ಯಾಂಗ್ಫೋರ್ಡ್ ಟೌನ್ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 11 | Lakkasandra | ಲಕ್ಕಸಂದ್ರ | December 2026 | Underground | Island | |
| 12 | Dairy Circle | ಡೈರಿ ಸರ್ಕಲ್ | December 2026 | Red Line (Proposed)
|
Underground | Island |
| Phase 1 - December 2025 | ||||||
| 13 | Tavarekere | ತಾವರೆಕೆರೆ | December 2025 | Elevated | Side | |
| 14 | Jayadeva Hospital | ಜಯದೇವ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ | December 2025 | Yellow Line (Under Construction)
|
Elevated | Side |
| 15 | JP Nagar 4th Phase | ಜಯಪ್ರಕಾಶ ನಗರ 4ನೇ ಹಂತ | December 2025 | Orange Line (Proposed)
|
Elevated | Side |
| 16 | IIMB | ಐಐಎಂಬಿ | December 2025 | Elevated | Side | |
| 17 | Hulimavu | ಹುಳಿಮಾವು | December 2025 | Elevated | Side | |
| 18 | Kalena Agrahara | ಕಾಳೇನ ಅಗ್ರಹಾರ | December 2025 | Elevated | Side | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Siddiqui, Muthi-ur-Rahman (31 October 2024). "Bengaluru: Namma Metro pushes Pink Line deadline to December 2026". Deccan Herald.
- ^ bmrc.co.in/pdf/phase2/phase2forweb.pdf
- ^ a b c "Know the location of new Pink Line metro stations". The Hindu. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "Bengaluru: Namma Metro Pink Line Tunnel Work To Complete By August". News18. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (4 August 2024). "Namma Metro's Pink line likely to open in phases". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Namma Metro Phase 2 In Bengaluru To Be Operational By 2025, Announces Karnataka Deputy CM". TimesNow. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Bangalore Monorail | Bangalore High Speed Rail". Karnataka.com. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "DPR Phase-2" (PDF).
- ^ Menezes, Naveen (6 July 2017). "Civic work to start in a year: Metro Phase II boasts of most expensive underground line". The Economic Times. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "BMRCL justifies not constructing metro station near Cantonment railway station, face public ire". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Metro: New alignment for longest underground stretch". The New Indian Express. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "Location of proposed Cantt Metro station moved by 300 metres". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "Bengaluru Cantonment to be suburban rail terminal". Deccan Herald. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Menezes, Naveen (15 March 2017). "Gottigere-Nagawara Metro line estimated to cost Rs 11,014 crore". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "BMRCL to construct a 11,014 Cr metro line in Bengaluru". Dalal Street Investment Journal. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "Bangalore Metro bids for Phase II". www.tunneltalk.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Menezes, Naveen. "High cost forces BMRCL to cancel underground tenders". The Economic Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Bangalore Metro Phase II moves ahead". www.tunneltalk.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Tenders called for Metro phase 2 stations". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ "Dairy Circle to Nagawara metro link announced, but it won't be quick – Bangalore Mirror -". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ "Simplex Infrastructures emerge L1 Bidder in tender for Metro Rail stretch on Bannerghatta Road – RailNews Media India Ltd". Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (28 April 2024). "Namma Metro: Underground tunnel work on Pink Line 95% complete". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Bureau, The Hindu (4 August 2024). "Namma Metro's Pink line likely to open in phases". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Rs 3,700-cr loan likely for Nagawara-Gottigere line". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
- ^ "Rs 2K cr boost for Phase-II BMRCL underground network". The New Indian Express. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ Briginshaw, David. "India seeks EIB loan for Bangalore metro Line 4". International Rail Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ "Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line to be operational in two phases".