The cabinet has approved the next two phases of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro project, which will run along the Outer Ring Road and National Highway 44.

Phase 2A will run 19·8 km from Central Silk Board Junction to KR Puram with 13 stations, and Phase 2B will cover 38·4 km from KR Puram to Hebbal Junction and Kempegowda International Airport with 17 stations. Construction is expected to cost Rs147·9bn and take around five years. 

Announcing its approval on April 20, the national government said the project would help to streamline urban transport in the city, relieving pressure caused by intensive development and an increase in the number of private vehicles.

Land acquisition has already been completed and civil works contracts are ready to be finalised for phase 2A, and now that government approval has been obtained construction is expected to begin shortly.

Land acquisition for Phase 2B is 90% complete and tenders are ready to be opened once the funding is finalised.

The Asian Development Bank approved a US$500m loan for the project in December, along with a US$2m technical assistance grant to help the state government formulate urban regeneration plans focusing on transit-oriented development and multimodal integration. Japan International Co-operation Agency is to provide a loan of Rs37bn.