Bengaluru’s public transport authority has begun evaluating a new mass transit extension on the city’s eastern edge, signalling how infrastructure planning is increasingly shaping peri-urban growth. The proposed 16-kilometre corridor between KR Pura and Hoskote would extend the Purple Line beyond its current eastern terminus, potentially using a double-decker structure to maximise limited road space and reduce surface-level disruption.
The study, commissioned as part of a wider network expansion strategy, examines whether combining Metro infrastructure with an elevated road deck is technically feasible and financially sustainable along one of east Bengaluru’s fastest-changing corridors. Urban planners say the move reflects a shift towards multi-utility transport corridors in dense, infrastructure-constrained cities, where land acquisition and traffic management are major challenges. If cleared, the alignment would pass through emerging residential and industrial clusters such as Budigere Cross, Medahalli and Avalahalli before terminating near central Hoskote. These areas have seen accelerated development following new regional road investments, including expressway and orbital road projects, which have pushed housing and logistics activity further east. A senior transport official indicated that final decisions would be guided by commuter demand, structural safety, lifecycle costs and environmental impact.
For residents of Hoskote and surrounding towns, the extension could significantly alter daily travel patterns. Currently, commuters rely on distant Metro stations at Whitefield or Benniganahalli, often adding long last-mile journeys by road. Transport experts note that a direct Metro link would reduce dependence on private vehicles, cut travel times, and lower emissions along a corridor already struggling with rising traffic volumes. The Bengaluru double decker metro concept also fits into a broader conversation around climate-resilient urban mobility. By stacking transport infrastructure vertically, cities can limit road widening, preserve street-level activity and reduce carbon-intensive construction. However, planners caution that such systems demand rigorous design standards, strong maintenance regimes and clear integration with feeder buses, walking and cycling networks to remain people-centric rather than purely engineering-led.
The feasibility exercise will feed into a detailed project report, expected to map station locations, cost estimates and ridership projections. Geotechnical assessments and sustainability audits are likely to follow if the proposal advances. Officials confirmed that this corridor is one of several under review as the state pushes for nearly 200 kilometres of new Metro lines to serve Bengaluru’s expanding metropolitan region. As growth continues to spill beyond the core city, the KR Pura–Hoskote study underscores a larger policy challenge: aligning transport investment with equitable housing, job access and environmental stewardship. Whether the Bengaluru double decker metro becomes a model for future corridors will depend on how effectively it balances speed, affordability and long-term urban liveability.
