The feasibility study for the 23 km extension of South India’s first inter-state metro project, from Bommasandra to Hosur, Tamil Nadu, is in its final phase despite opposition. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials have sought cooperation from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for the project’s implementation.
Sources said that since December, following approval from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Chennai Metro has been preparing the feasibility report for this extension. The study, conducted by Balaji Rail Road Systems, is nearly complete. CMRL has sought the assistance of BMRCL to finalise the report.
However, BMRCL has shown limited interest in the matter. Initially, a 20.5 km metro route was planned. However, to accommodate a terminal station on the outskirts of Hosur, Tamil Nadu, an additional 2.5 km has been added, extending the project to a total of 23 km. Of this, 12 km will be in Karnataka, and the remaining 11 km will be in Tamil Nadu. The plan involves extending the existing RV Road – Bommasandra Yellow Line to Hosur. Currently, the Tamil Nadu government has covered the entire cost of the feasibility report.
However, it is anticipated that BMRCL may propose funding once the project moves to the implementation stage. In July, BMRCL issued a tender to Hyderabad-based RV Associates to prepare a feasibility report for extending our metro line to Attibele. This report is expected to be completed within the next six months.
The feasibility study evaluates key factors such as train types, estimated ridership, total construction costs, and station alignments.
Hosur, an industrial hub with major companies like Titan, Ashok Leyland, and TVS Motors, as well as 2,000 MSMEs, experiences significant daily traffic. Residents currently depend on overcrowded buses for their commute.
On the other hand, experts believe that the connection between the two states should be made through a network of suburban rails, as they are primarily used for inter-city linkages, unlike metro rail, which caters to intra-city movement.
The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company (K-RIDE), which is executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), has recently proposed connecting neighbouring cities and towns to Bengaluru, including a Heelalige-Hosur corridor measuring 23 km.
State urban transport experts and pro-Kannada organisations have strongly opposed the extension of our metro to Hosur. They argue that this expansion offers no significant benefit to Bengaluru and could instead cause issues for local industries and entrepreneurs.
