BMRCL unveils ₹10,000-cr underground rail line

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) in a latest move has planned a 34-km long underground Metro corridor along the Inner Ring Road, informed Ajay Seth, Managing Director of BMRCL. The 34-km network is a part of CMP 2031 involving an investment of ₹10,000 crore. It will cover some important places in Central Bengaluru such as Mehkri Circle, Domlur and Koramangala. The proposal to build Metro on the Inner Ring Road also finds mention in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and will be part of Namma Metro's upcoming Phase III project. Currently, the IT City, with a population of over 1 crore, has a Metro network across 42 km only. BMRCL is constructing a 72-km Metro line which is expected to be ready by 2023-24. There are plans to build another 53 km (between Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport via KR Puram) in the next five years. There is a huge demand to expand the Metro lines quickly as the population of Bengaluru is expected to cross 20 million by 2031.