Bengaluru’s Inner Ring Metro project shelved as focus shifts to outer corridors

The 34-km fully underground Inner Ring Metro, once proposed to ease congestion in Bengaluru’s central areas, has been dropped from Namma Metro’s Phase 3 plan as the government prioritises connectivity to satellite towns.

Bengaluru’s much-anticipated 34-km fully underground Inner Ring Metro (IRM) project, once envisioned as a breakthrough for decongesting the city’s core, has now been shelved. Despite being part of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) 2020 and supported by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the proposal did not make it into Namma Metro’s Phase 3 expansion, effectively placing it on indefinite hold.

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The IRM was designed to form a circular underground route connecting the city’s busiest and most congested corridors, linking commercial centres, residential hubs, and educational institutions. As per the IISc’s preliminary report submitted to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) in 2020, the line was to include 23 stations and six interchanges, providing smooth intra-city travel and connectivity with other metro lines.

Led by Professor Ashish Verma from IISc’s Civil Engineering Department, the study highlighted that every intersection between the IRM and existing Metro lines was strategically planned to act as an interchange, ensuring maximum network integration. The report emphasised that the project could significantly reduce congestion in central Bengaluru by offering faster, underground connectivity across inner zones.

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However, the state government has now shifted its priority to expanding metro routes towards satellite towns, including Tumakuru, Devanahalli, Attibele, Harohalli, Bidadi, Hoskote, Tavarekere, and Jigani. The BMRCL has been directed to conduct feasibility studies for these outer corridors, while no such progress has been made for the Inner Ring Metro.

The decision to sideline the IRM comes amid growing concerns from urban planners and civic groups, who argue that the government’s focus on the Tunnel Road project and suburban extensions could duplicate efforts without addressing Bengaluru’s core mobility challenges. Experts believe the absence of the Inner Ring Metro could limit last-mile and cross-city connectivity, potentially impacting sustainable transport goals in the city’s densest areas.