Bengaluru [Karnataka]: The much-awaited Blue Line of Namma Metro, designed to connect Central Silk Board with Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), has once again been delayed, with the latest deadline now pushed to late 2027. Initially promised within four years of construction, the city’s most ambitious metro project continues to test the patience of commuters and air travellers.

A lifeline for Bengaluru’s tech and travel hub

The 58.19-km Blue Line is being implemented in two phases—Phase 2A (Silk Board–KR Puram, 19.75 km) and Phase 2B (KR Puram–Airport, 38.44 km). At an estimated cost of ₹15,131 crore, the line is touted as a game-changer for Bengaluru.

Cutting through the Outer Ring Road (ORR), home to some of India’s biggest IT parks and the city’s most congested stretch, Phase 2A promises relief to lakhs of daily commuters. Phase 2B, meanwhile, offers what Bengaluru lacks most—a direct metro link to its airport, unlike Chennai, Kochi, and Kolkata, which already enjoy such connectivity.

The line is being equipped with driverless trains, luggage racks, and enhanced safety systems to cater to airport-bound passengers. Two dedicated metro stations are planned inside the airport premises, including a semi-underground terminal station located just below the surface.

A project mired in delays

The Blue Line’s journey began in 2016 when the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted. Approvals followed in 2017 and 2019, but actual construction started only in late 2021. At the time, the target completion date was December 2024.

Since then, deadlines have slipped repeatedly—from 2024 to 2026, and now 2027. As of June 2025, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has indicated that Phase 2A could partially open by September 2025, but the airport link in Phase 2B will require at least two additional years.

Why is Bengaluru still waiting?

The project has faced the familiar hurdles that have slowed down Namma Metro in the past:

  • Land acquisition delays around ORR and near the airport stretch.

  • Traffic diversions creating bottlenecks and construction challenges.

  • High water table issues and environmental clearance requirements.

  • Encroachments and technical snags in key stretches.

  • A nine-month suspension after a fatal accident at HBR Layout in 2023.

    • Additionally, work on the airport stations—being executed separately by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)—is still in progress, adding another layer of dependency.

    Why the Blue Line matters more than ever

    For Bengalureans, the Blue Line is more than just another metro route. It addresses two of the city’s most painful journeys—the bumper-to-bumper crawl along ORR, and the time-consuming drive to KIA, which lies nearly 40 km from the city centre.

    Meanwhile, metro ridership figures show the growing appetite for mass transit. The Purple Line, which runs east-west, now carries 4.5 lakh daily riders, while the Green Line sees nearly 3 lakh. The newly opened Yellow Line, connecting RV Road to Bommasandra, saw more than 52,000 commuters on its first day in August 2025, pushing overall daily ridership past 10 lakh. During the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations in June 2025, metro usage even touched 9.7 lakh in a single day.

    With these numbers, the case for the Blue Line becomes undeniable. Every delay prolongs the frustration of daily commuters and travellers alike, who see the project as a vital urban necessity.

    Conclusion

    While BMRCL promises partial relief with the September 2025 opening of Phase 2A, the airport link remains at least two years away. For a city that calls itself India’s tech capital, the absence of a metro to the airport is a glaring gap. With mounting ridership, traffic woes, and growing public anger, the Blue Line is not just another project—it is Bengaluru’s most essential metro corridor. The city, however, will have to wait until 2027 to see it in full service.