South India’s First Interstate Metro Project Faces Karnataka Concerns

South India’s inaugural interstate metro project, aimed at connecting Bengaluru to Hosur, Tamil Nadu, is encountering significant opposition from Karnataka. This 23-km line, linking Bengaluru’s Bommasandra to Hosur with 12 stations and a depot, has sparked worries in Karnataka about potential economic impacts and infrastructure priorities.

On August 27, officials from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRL) and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) met to discuss the project’s implementation. However, BMRCL clarified the following day that nothing was finalized due to an incomplete Detailed Feasibility Study Report.

Proposed as an extension of Bengaluru’s Yellow Line, the metro line will cover 11 km in Tamil Nadu and 12 km in Karnataka. Despite initial approval in June 2022 and support from Tamil Nadu for a new international airport in Hosur, Karnataka’s concerns have intensified.

Karnataka’s Information Technology and Biotechnology Minister, Priyank Kharge, has voiced strong opposition, arguing that the metro could negatively affect investment prospects in Bengaluru. Kharge highlighted fears that better connectivity for Hosur might reduce the need for a new airport in Bengaluru and divert economic opportunities away from the city.

Supporters of the project, including Velmurugan K, former president of the Hosur Small and Tiny Industries Association, argue that the metro would benefit both cities by improving connectivity and reducing reliance on road transport.

However, critics, including mobility activists, advocate for prioritizing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) over the interstate metro. Rajkumar Dugar, founder of Citizens for Citizens (C4C), contends that suburban rail would be more cost-effective and better suited for intercity transport. He also raised concerns about the complexities of an interstate metro, including language and operational issues across state borders.

The project’s approval had initially received backing from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments, with support from political figures such as A Chellakumar and Siddaramaiah. The debate highlights ongoing tensions between infrastructure development priorities and regional economic concerns.

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