ORR Metro Phase-2A to Open in December 2026; IT Commuters Face Another Year’s Wait

October 02, 2025:

The much-awaited KR Puram–Silk Board metro line (Phase-2A) will only be ready for operations by December 2026, pushing back relief for thousands of tech workers who brave Bengaluru’s congested Outer Ring Road (ORR) every day.

At a recent review meeting between the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) and BMRCL Managing Director Dr. J. Ravishankar, IAS, officials confirmed that commuters—primarily IT professionals working in the ORR tech corridor—will have to endure at least one more year of traffic bottlenecks before metro services become available.

The ORR stretch, which houses the campuses of several global IT and technology firms, sees nearly 800,000 commuters daily, making it one of the most overburdened transport corridors in Bengaluru.

To mitigate construction impact, BMRCL has assured that median, footpath, and road restoration works will be taken up quickly once station-level construction is completed. ORRCA also pushed for a range of commuter-friendly measures, including last-mile connectivity solutions, higher train frequency, median plantation, and multi-level car parking facilities to ensure smooth adoption of metro services once operational.

While the announcement brings clarity on timelines, it also means the city’s tech workforce—already grappling with long commutes—must wait another year before seeing the benefits of mass transit on ORR.

Snapshot timeline (Central Silk Board → KR Puram)

• DPR prepared / submitted to state: DPR prepared and submitted (DPR date cited) — 28 October 2016. 
• Karnataka (state) approval: State Cabinet approval — 1 March 2017. 
• Tenders (first round) called: February 2018 (IL&FS was lowest bidder but that award was later quashed). 
• Fresh tendering / revised cost & bids: Second round of tendering late 2019 (fresh bids Mar 2020 referenced). 
• Central government approval / funding nod: April 2021 (central approval received).
• Tenders awarded / contracts signed: Tenders for Phase-2A were awarded in May 2021.
• Construction started on Phase-2A: August 2021 (soil testing/works noted around then and construction commencement reported).