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Bengaluru’s 58-km Blue Line, connecting Central Silk Board with Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), is expected to become fully operational by March 2028, with different sections scheduled to open in phases from 2027. The Central Silk Board-KR Pura section is targeted for commercial operations by mid-2027, while the Hebbal-KIA section is expected to be ready by September 2027. The remaining KR Pura-Hebbal section is likely to be completed between December 2027 and March 2028. Construction complexities along the Outer Ring Road and provisions for future integration with the proposed Orange Line have affected the overall timeline.
Bengaluru’s 58-km Blue Line connecting Central Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is expected to become fully operational by March 2028, with services planned to commence in phases from mid-2027. The revised schedule was indicated by Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on August 22 after a review of the ongoing works. The complete corridor was earlier expected to be operational by December 2027.
The Blue Line is being developed in two sections under Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd’s (BMRCL) Phase 2A and Phase 2B projects. The Central Silk Board-KR Pura section forms part of Phase 2A, while the KR Pura-KIA section is covered under Phase 2B. Together, the corridors will establish a direct Metro connection between the southern and eastern parts of Bengaluru and the airport.
Construction on the Central Silk Board-KR Pura section has progressed, with trial runs planned on different portions of the corridor. Trials between KR Pura and Iblur are expected to begin in October 2026, followed by trials on the Iblur-Central Silk Board section in December. Commercial operations across the Central Silk Board-KR Pura section are targeted for mid-2027.
On the airport side, the Hebbal-KIA section is expected to be ready for operations by September 2027. The KR Pura-Hebbal portion, including the Nagawara stretch, is expected to take longer and is currently scheduled for completion between December 2027 and March 2028. The phased opening will allow sections of the corridor to enter service before the entire airport link is completed.
The construction between Hebbal and Nagawara has faced difficulties because of the dense urban environment along the Outer Ring Road. The corridor passes through heavily trafficked areas where construction activity has to be coordinated with existing road and utility infrastructure. These constraints have contributed to the revised completion schedule.
Additional structural work is also being undertaken to accommodate the proposed Orange Line, which is planned to connect JP Nagar with Kempapura. Between Hebbal and Kempapura, BMRCL is developing infrastructure that will allow the future line to be integrated with the Blue Line. The design includes a four-track elevated structure and specialised structures along sections where the two networks will interact.
The Blue Line will run through several major employment and residential areas along Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road before reaching KIA. The corridor is expected to provide an alternative public transport connection to the airport and improve access to key business districts located along the eastern and southern parts of the city.
Once the full corridor is commissioned, passengers will be able to travel between Central Silk Board and KIA using the Metro network, with interchange facilities providing connections to other Namma Metro lines. The phased commissioning schedule will therefore bring sections of the airport corridor into service during 2027, while the complete 58-km route is targeted for operation by March 2028.
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