Gray Line Metro work begins: Complete list of stations and areas connected to it. Bengaluru-News News

Last updated:December 16, 2025, 10:26 IST

This corridor is expected to improve connectivity in Magadi Road and surrounding areas, which currently rely heavily on buses and private vehicles for daily commute.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited is preparing to invite tenders for the Phase 3 Hosahalli-Kadabagere Metro Line, also known as the Gray Line, but the project is expected to take longer and cost significantly more due to its double-decker design. The 12.15 km long elevated corridor will run from Hosahalli Metro station to Kadbagere on Magadi Road and is part of the Phase 3 extension of the Namma Metro.

According to BMRCL officials, the tender documents have already been prepared and the process of inviting bids will begin soon, although no specific date has been announced yet. It is expected that contractors will be finalized within six months of tendering. If the timelines hold, construction is likely to begin in June 2026, with the project expected to take approximately five and a half years to complete once work on the ground begins.

Stations planned along Hosahalli-Kadabagere corridor

The Hosahalli-Kadbagere line will serve some of the densely populated western parts of Bengaluru. The proposed stations on this corridor are Hosahalli, KHB Colony, Kamakshipalya, Sumanahalli Cross, Sanakadkatte, Herohalli, Bayadarahalli, Kamath Layout and Kadabagere.

This corridor is expected to improve connectivity in Magadi Road and surrounding areas, which currently rely heavily on buses and private vehicles for daily commute.

Double-decker design adds complexity

The main reason for the delay in the Hosahalli-Kadabagere project is its double-decker design. Unlike standard elevated metro corridors, the project will consist of three layers of infrastructure: an existing road at ground level, a flyover above it and the metro line at the highest level.

BMRCL officials say this design significantly slows down construction and increases the complexity of the project. Under normal circumstances, construction of the Namma Metro progresses at the rate of about 7 to 8 kilometers per year.

However, in the double-decker configuration, the construction speed is expected to drop to between 3 to 5 kilometers per year due to the need for additional structural work, security clearances and coordination.

Slow progress compared to initial metro targets

Construction of the metro in Bengaluru began in 2002, with an initial target of constructing approximately 175 kilometers by 2027. To achieve this, the city will need to build about 8 kilometers of metro lines every year. However, this calculation did not include flyover construction as part of metro projects.

In reality, only 96.1 km of metro lines have been completed in the last 14 years. Experts say Bengaluru’s metro construction pace is the slowest in the country, especially when compared to other big Indian cities, which have expanded the length of the network more rapidly.

High project costs raise concerns

The cost of the Hosahalli-Kadabagere line has also attracted attention. According to BMRCL estimates, the construction of the elevated metro line alone will require Rs 15,611 crore. This cost will be shared between the state and central governments.

Additionally, the Karnataka government has promised Rs 9,700 crore for the construction of the flyover which is part of the double-decker design. Experts have pointed out that the combined cost makes it one of the most expensive metro corridors in the city.

An official told The New Indian Express that the delay was partly due to the time taken by the state government to decide and issue orders that all future elevated metro projects would have to follow the double-decker model. Officials said this policy decision had a direct impact on the project’s timeline.

Approval, land acquisition and coordination issues

Apart from policy delays, the project has also been held up due to the need for multiple approvals. One of the major hurdles was the approval for the construction of the highest metro station at Sumanahalli Cross. Similar delays in approvals affected Jayadeva Hospital, Goraguntepalya and elevated stations on Mysore Road.

Land acquisition and tree cutting work has started in some parts of the corridor. However, officials say progress remains slow due to poor coordination between government departments and private agencies as well as delays in securing necessary permissions.

what lies ahead

While BMRCL’s move to invite tenders is an important step, the Hosahalli-Kadabagere metro line remains a long-term project rather than an immediate relief for commuters. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026 and completion is estimated to take more than five years, with residents of Magadi Road having to wait before seeing tangible benefits.

The project also gives rise to wider debate over whether double-decker metro designs, despite being space-efficient, are slowing down Bengaluru’s already delayed metro expansion.