Bengaluru Airport Metro Line to Be Operational by 2027, Network to Expand to 175 km

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Saturday announced that the city’s much-anticipated airport metro line is targeted to be operationally ready by the end of 2027, a milestone that will expand the metro network to 175 km, the largest single expansion undertaken so far.

The update was shared by Abhai Kumar Rai, Advisor (Civil), BMRCL, while speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Sustainability in Action: Bengaluru’s Urban Challenge,’ jointly organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Addressing the forum as a panellist, Rai outlined the broader expansion roadmap of Namma Metro, stating that work is currently in progress on Phase-3 spanning 44 km, while Detailed Project Reports for Phase-3A covering an additional 36 km have been prepared and are under consideration for sanction.

He added that feasibility studies are underway for over 200 km of future metro corridors to meet Bengaluru’s long-term mobility requirements. Highlighting operational efficiencies, Rai said BMRCL has adopted technologies such as regenerative braking, enabling more than 30 per cent energy savings in train operations.

The panel discussion brought together experts from mobility, water, climate, infrastructure and sustainability sectors to examine practical approaches to building urban resilience in a rapidly expanding Bengaluru.

The session was moderated by Sanjay Seth, Vice President and CEO, GRIHA Council and Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI, New Delhi.

Seth observed that while Bengaluru has regulatory and advisory frameworks in place for green construction, resource efficiency and sustainable mobility, the key challenge remains effective implementation. He noted that infrastructure expansion continues to outpace sustainability safeguards.

Rajesh Kumar Jha, Chairman, Sustainability (Energy, Environment and Water) Expert Committee, BCIC and Country Sustainability Manager, ABB India Ltd, said development and environmental stewardship can progress together if supported by responsible planning and committed execution.

Other panellists included Ajeet Kumar, Chief Engineer, Central Public Works Department; Ranjit Kumar, IVLP Fellow on Water Economics and Pricing and South Asia Climate Champion (2022-24); and Aloke Mukharjee, Program Lead – Research and Cities, WRI India.

Discussions focused on Bengaluru’s urban challenges such as water insecurity, fragmented mobility systems, weakening ecological buffers and the need for stronger citizen participation to match policy ambitions.

The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BCIC and the GRIHA Council to promote long-term collaboration on sustainable infrastructure and green building adoption in the city’s industrial and corporate sectors.

The MoU was signed by K Ravi, Senior Vice President, BCIC, and Sanjay Seth, Vice President and CEO, GRIHA Council.

During the forum, Springer announced the release of the book ‘Best Practices in Sustainable Built Environments: Case Studies from India and Australia.’ The publication was introduced by lead editor Dr Jessica Siva of the University of Newcastle, Australia, along with co-editors Dr Josephine Vaughan, Dr Saurabh Verma and Dr Priyanka Kochhar.

The forum concluded with a consensus that Bengaluru’s sustainability challenges demand integrated solutions across water management, mobility, construction practices, technology adoption and community engagement, supported by governance models capable of sustaining long-term behavioural change.