Bengaluru’s ambitious Phase 3 of Namma Metro, referred to as the Orange Line, could be delayed by at least a year as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to integrate double-decker flyovers along portions of the corridor. Officials confirmed that this change in design will also push up the overall project cost by around 5%.
On August 10, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the long-pending Yellow Line, which links R.V. Road to Bommasandra, and during the same event, he also laid the foundation stone for Phase 3 of the metro network, an infrastructure project valued at more than ₹15,611 crore.
Phase 3 will cover a total distance of over 44 km with 31 elevated stations. It has been conceived to serve Bengaluru’s growing residential, industrial, educational, and commercial hubs. The project includes two corridors: the first stretching 32.15 km from J.P. Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura, and the second spanning 12.5 km from Hosahalli to Kadabagere.
Despite receiving all statutory approvals, including clearance from the Union Cabinet in August 2024, the project’s progress has slowed. Officials attribute the delay to design modifications required for the double-decker viaduct. “The changes demand about 25% more land for station structures as the increased height of the alignment necessitates additional road-widening measures,” an official said.
