The State government in the current State budget announced that the work on Phase-2 will commence during 2012-13 and will be commissioned by 2017-18. The extension of Reach-1 and Reach-2 proposed in Phase-2 are going to give the much needed connectivity to the industrial areas and hubs of information technology. Tenders have been floated by BMRCL for the extension of both reaches for geotechnical investigations.
The State Government recently approved Phase- 2 consisting of four extension lines and two new lines with a total length of 72 km at a total cost of Rs 26,405 crore. The four extension lines will give the much needed last mile connectivity. The two new lines traversing through some of the most traffic congested areas of Bengaluru are expected to provide connectivity to the Information Technology industry. The Government of India has been requested to part-finance Phase-2 as it did Phase-1.
Extension under Phase-2:
Reach-1 extension: The first Namma Metro line to be inaugurated was Reach-1. However, people complained that the reach should have been extended to Whitefield.
Under Phase-2, a 12.50 km viaduct is proposed to be built with 14 stations, namely Jyothipura, K.R. Puram, Narayanpura, Mahadevapura, Gurudacharpalya, Doddanekundi industrial area, Visweswaraiah industrial area, Kunadanahalli, Vydehi hospital, Satyasai hospital, ITPL, Kadugodi, Ujawala Vidyalaya and Whitefield.
The Reach-1 extension is going to cover major industrial areas and also one of the biggest information technology hubs of Bengaluru, ITPL. There will be seamless connectivity from the central business district to Whitefield once the extension becomes operational. The extension will also help decongest Old Madras Road and other strategic and bustling locations around the vicinity.
Reach-2 extension: Soil testing is going to be conducted for the extension that has been proposed between Mysore Road Station and Kengeri terminal station. The viaduct is said to be 5.90 km, with six stations, namely Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore University, R.V. College, Kengeri station and Kengeri terminal station.
This reach extension will be especially helpful to students as a major education institution, Bangalore University, is being covered in the route.