Bengaluru Metro Completes Tunnelling for Longest Underground Stretch in the City

Bengaluru reached a major milestone in its metro expansion on Wednesday as the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) completed tunnelling for the city’s longest underground stretch. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the development of the Pink Line (Reach-6) under Phase-2, a 13.76-kilometer route connecting Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north. Once operational, this line will offer commuters a rapid, efficient alternative to the city’s notoriously congested streets.

Stretching along a 20.99-kilometer twin-tunnel system on the North-South corridor, this newly completed line will be key to improving transit through some of Bengaluru's busiest areas. By offering a reliable underground transit route, the Pink Line is poised to ease traffic pressure across the city, helping commuters avoid surface-level congestion.

The ambitious underground project includes four major stations in its south-to-north journey: Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Arabic College, and Nagawara. Managed by M/s ITD Cementation India Limited, one of India’s prominent engineering firms, the project is an example of engineering expertise, featuring cutting-edge tunnel boring technology and an intricate station design to support commuter needs.

The final tunnel boring for this extensive segment was accomplished by “Bhadra,” the last Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on the line, which covered the final 937 meters from K G Halli to Nagawara. This completion signals a remarkable achievement in Bangalore's underground metro infrastructure, with 100 percent of the tunnelling now successfully executed for this line.

The journey of constructing the Pink Line began in August 2020, with the first TBM, Urja, launched to begin work between Cantonment and Shivajinagar. In total, nine TBMs were deployed to carry out the various sections, showcasing impressive achievements. TBM Urja, for instance, set a milestone for the longest single-day progress by covering 27 meters on April 25, 2022. Additionally, TBM Tunga broke another record by completing 308 meters in a single month between K G Halli and Nagawara in July 2024.

The Pink Line project comprises a total of 12 underground stations, with approximately 90 percent of the construction work for these stations already complete. Once operational, the line is expected to make a meaningful difference in commuter life, providing a streamlined travel experience along the North-South route through central Bengaluru.

As one of Bengaluru's most ambitious infrastructure projects, the Pink Line is expected to be fully operational by December 2025. This milestone is part of BMRCL’s mission to enhance the urban transit landscape, creating a dependable and efficient metro system that stands as a testament to Bengaluru’s progress toward a sustainable and commuter-friendly future.