Namma Metro Phase 2 Cost Revision

The Karnataka government has formally approached the Centre for approval of the revised Namma Metro Phase 2 cost, which has climbed sharply since the project was first sanctioned. The Karnataka cabinet approved the increase in the cost of Namma Metro's Phase 2 by Rs 9,729.90 crore, with Phase 2 now costing Rs 40,425 crore as against Rs 30,695.12 crore estimated earlier. Officials confirm the state has now taken the next step of pushing the Centre for a quick sign-off. Karnataka has sought early approval for the revised cost of Namma Metro Phase-2, which has reportedly escalated to ₹40,425.02 crore due to various project-related factors.

The cost trajectory of Phase 2 tells the story of a project that has grown far beyond its original scope. When Phase 2 was approved in 2014, its cost was estimated at Rs 26,405.14 crore. Three years later, Karnataka approved additional subordinate debt to meet the revised land cost of Rs 6,293.16 crore, and the cost was subsequently revised to Rs 30,695.12 crore. Higher civil work and land acquisition costs further drove up the cost.

The scope of Phase 2 itself expanded along the way. The total length of Phase 2 increased from 72.095 km to 75.09 km because the Purple Line was extended from Kengeri to Challaghatta and a new station was added, while the depot was also shifted from Kengeri to Challaghatta. Civil work alone cost Rs 4,408.73 crore, and based on the revised estimation, Phase 2 will cost Rs 538.56 crore per kilometre.

A technical review helped trim the final figure before cabinet clearance. A committee of technical experts constituted on February 6, 2025 submitted its report on April 29 and trimmed Rs 189.25 crore from the proposal by excluding the cost of platform screen doors, meaning only the underground stations on the Purple Line and the Infosys station on the Yellow Line will get them. A senior BMRCL official said the cost of platform screen doors would be included in future phases.

The Centre has signalled it will scrutinise the revised numbers carefully before clearing them. The Union government will review the cost hike of ₹9,729.90 crore in Namma Metro's Phase 2 after the state government submits its proposal, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar said. He noted that the project will be taken up for sanction by the Centre once a reply is received from the Government of Karnataka.

On the ground, the delay behind the cost overrun is visible in how much of Phase 2 is still incomplete. As of December 2024, only 34.65 km has been operationalised, and of the two new lines, the Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra, 19.15 km) has long been ready but commercial operations haven't begun for want of trains. The deadline for the Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara-Nagavara; 21.26 km) has been pushed to December 2026.

For homebuyers, the delay-cost cycle around Phase 2 is a reminder that metro-linked value in Bangalore tends to play out over years rather than months. Corridors such as Whitefield, RV Road-Bommasandra and the airport-facing stretches have already seen residential activity build up ahead of full commissioning, even as construction timelines slip. With the Centre now reviewing the Phase 2 numbers, the pace of remaining approvals will shape how soon commuters along these corridors get full metro access.

Meanwhile, momentum is building on the next stage of expansion. With the RITES assessment indicating that the revised Phase-3 project continues to meet the Centre's economic viability standards, officials believe the proposal is now in a stronger position to secure final approval and move towards implementation. The Karnataka government has also decided to integrate a double-decker system at an additional cost of approximately ₹9,700 crore, to accommodate both a flyover and metro corridor on the same structure, after the Centre's original Phase-3 approval in September 2024 did not include it. Together, these developments point to a metro network that keeps expanding in scope and cost, with real implications for property values along every new line.