Bengaluru ₹20,649 Crore Namma Metro Extension To Tumakuru Faces Criticism
Bengaluru’s ambitious plan to extend the Namma Metro from Madavara to Tumakuru, at an estimated cost of ₹20,649 crore, has ignited sharp debate over its feasibility and financial prudence. While the proposal aims to boost connectivity between the city and Tumakuru, critics argue that the project is ill-suited for the purpose of metro infrastructure and risks diverting resources from more sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
Officials confirmed that a Detailed Project Report has already been commissioned at a cost of ₹3 crore. However, urban transport experts warn that this exercise could amount to little more than a costly paperwork exercise if the government fails to address fundamental flaws in the project’s logic. They point out that metro systems are designed primarily for short-distance urban travel, offering frequent stops, fast boarding, and space optimised for standing passengers. Extending such a system nearly 60 kilometres into a semi-urban corridor, they argue, compromises efficiency and comfort, making it unsuitable for longer commutes.
Currently, Bengaluru and Tumakuru are already linked by an active railway line carrying passenger and express trains. Transport specialists suggest that modernising this line by enhancing speed limits to 100–160 km/h, reducing intermediate stops, and ensuring greater frequency would provide a far more practical and economical solution. Such an upgrade would not only cost significantly less but also leverage existing infrastructure with minimal environmental impact, aligning with broader goals of sustainable and low-carbon mobility.
Another concern raised by experts is the timing of the proposal. With several ongoing metro corridors within Bengaluru still facing delays and cost escalations, critics question the wisdom of investing over ₹20,000 crore into a project that extends the metro into rural stretches. Officials within the metro authority have also acknowledged that taking the metro outside city limits would necessitate new laws and regulatory frameworks, which could further complicate execution.
Sustainable transport advocates emphasise that strengthening Bengaluru’s commuter rail system could serve Tumakuru’s commuters more effectively. By integrating railway upgrades with metro and bus services, the region could create a seamless multi-modal network. Suggestions include developing a transport hub at the last metro station on Tumakuru Road, where trains, metro, and buses can converge, ensuring faster and smoother connections without the inefficiencies of an intercity metro.
While the metro extension proposal remains under review, the debate underscores a larger question about India’s urban mobility priorities. At a time when cities are striving for greener, more cost-efficient, and equitable transport systems, the challenge for policymakers is to avoid politically attractive but technically flawed projects, and instead invest in solutions that deliver long-term benefits to citizens and the environment.
