In a significant policy reversal, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has scaled down its proposed Hebbal depot plan from over 45 acres to just 9 acres. The move follows mounting pressure from real estate interests and evolving urban infrastructure demands in northern Bengaluru. Originally, the Hebbal site was intended to house a full-fledged stabling depot to serve the proposed 36.59-km Hebbal–Sarjapur metro corridor.
This ambitious plan included additional infrastructure such as multi-level parking and a multi-modal transport hub. However, BMRCL’s revised proposal, submitted to the Department of Commerce and Industries, now limits construction to only the multi-modal integration facility, with the depot component entirely dropped. Sources indicate that this change aligns with newer plans by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which proposes a tunnel road entrance near Hebbal.
The spatial and structural constraints introduced by this proposal likely made the construction of a depot less feasible. The revision comes nearly 40 days after a high-level meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Industries Minister MB Patil, during which BMRCL was advised to scale back its land acquisition and infrastructure ambitions at the site.
The pressure from the real estate lobby reportedly played a significant role in influencing the decision. The original 45-acre parcel at Hebbal was notified for Lake View Tourism Corporation back in May 2004. However, the project stalled due to payment defaults and legal complications. Although the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) currently holds the land, affected landowners have still not received compensation, leaving the acquisition incomplete.
Multiple meetings were held to finalise the transfer of land from KIADB to BMRCL, but the process hit a roadblock as private developers began urging the government to honour the original 2004 agreement. Developers referenced a court order permitting the acquisition of land at outdated compensation rates, further complicating BMRCL’s plans.
While BMRCL’s scaling back at Hebbal reflects ongoing tensions between public transit expansion and private development interests, urban planners and mobility experts caution that such compromises could hamper long-term metro efficiency. As Bengaluru’s traffic and commuter needs grow, the absence of a stabling depot in this strategic corridor may impact service reliability in the future.
