Bengaluru’s Namma Metro has completed 14 years of operation, but its progress remains painfully slow. Since its inception, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has managed to complete only 96 km of its network, averaging a modest 7 km (6.86 km per year).
Despite its vital role in easing the city’s notorious traffic congestion, the project is mired in delays, missed deadlines and administrative inefficiencies that continue to inconvenience thousands of commuters.
20 October marks 12 years since the opening of the first operational section of the Namma Metro, Reach 1, connecting MG Road to Baiyyappanahalli on 20 October 2011. The launch was a historic milestone, signaling the beginning of South India’s first metro system and the city’s entry into the era of mass rapid transit. Over time, the network grew to become India’s second largest metro with a length of 96.1 km behind the only metro in Delhi.
However, this growth has come at a snail’s pace. What was envisioned as a transformational project has instead become synonymous with delays. Bengaluru’s first metro line, which was inaugurated in 2016, also took years longer than planned. Prolonged construction and constant road detours have left citizens facing daily traffic chaos.
For example, the Yellow Line that connects RV Road to Bommasandra is an example of the persistent delays that characterize BMRCL operations. Originally scheduled to open in December 2022, the line missed several dates, first being pushed to June 2023, then April 2024. Although construction work ended in March 2024, delays in receiving rolling stock forced BMRCL to postpone the opening further to December 2024. It was finally inaugurated in August 2025, almost three years later.
Administrative delays
“Much of the delay in the Namma Metro is administrative rather than technical,” said railway activist KN Krishna Prasad. “Both the Center and the State, which jointly run BMRCL, have failed to coordinate effectively. Lack of management stability and lack of technical expertise among top officials have only exacerbated the problem.”
He pointed out that BMRCL had been functioning without a full-time CEO for a long time and those holding the position often lacked the technical background to run such a complex infrastructure project. “Given the growing population and transport needs of Bengaluru, Metro should have been prioritized. Instead, poor coordination and gaps in leadership have slowed down progress,” he added.
“Misplaced Priorities”
Transport expert MN Srihari called for a shift in government priorities. “Instead of focusing on long-term metro expansion, authorities often turn to quick-fix projects like flyovers and now tunnel roads. These offer short-term relief but do not address the root cause of congestion. Metro expansion should be seen as an investment in shaping the city, not one of many infrastructure projects,” he said.
Mr. Srihari pointed out that BMRCL’s potential remains largely untapped due to poor planning and lack of technical direction. “Land acquisition hurdles, frequent design changes and poor inter-agency coordination continue to slow down the project. Bengaluru needs a seamless, high-capacity metro network to tackle traffic and pollution issues,” he added.
BMRCL officials, meanwhile, attribute the delay to factors beyond their immediate control. “Land acquisition issues have been one of our biggest challenges. It takes time to acquire property from private owners, the forest department and other government bodies. Besides, public interest litigations (PILs) and delays in environmental clearance are further complicating the timelines,” said a senior BMRCL official.
The most expensive metro in India
Officials cited the time-consuming process of obtaining permits for cutting down trees, moving services and safety inspections as key reasons for the slow progress. “Inter-ministerial coordination remains a bottleneck. Even small procedural delays can delay entire sections of work,” the official added.
Namma Metro is the most expensive metro network in the country in terms of fares. In February, BMRCL revised the tariffs and initially proposed an increase of more than 110%. After strong public opposition, the increase was limited to 71%. However, the lack of transparency surrounding the fare review process has drawn criticism from commuters and civic groups.
BMRCL has come under fire for withholding the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report for months before releasing it.
Published – 21 October 2025 20:00 IST
