Should the low-capacity, low-speed, hugely expensive Metro rail system be extended to the far-flung suburbs and the adjacent districts of Bengaluru? Vast swathes of the city’s core are yet to get a decent Metro network, but the urge to extend its reach comes at the cost of a very viable alternative: The much-delayed suburban rail system with a clearly established potential for high capacity, high speed and much lower construction cost.
Are the State and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) serious about the extension? For the record, a feasibility study has been proposed by Namma Metro for a potential 129-km of Phase 4. The plan is to extend the Purple and Green lines to Bidadi via Mysuru Road; Harohalli through Kanakapura Road, Attibele along Hosur Road and to Kunigal Cross, taking the Tumakuru Road route.
