In a significant development, the Government of India's Urban Development Department has granted approval for the Namma Metro Phase 3A project, which will link Hebbal to Sarjapur’s Tech Hub, spanning 37 kilometers.

The next step is for the Union Cabinet to approve the plan after the finance department reviews the detailed project report (DPR) to make funding decisions. The project’s budget estimate for 2022-23 was around Rs 165 billion, but the estimated cost has now risen to Rs 270 billion following the DPR's submission.

Last August, the Union Cabinet approved the Metro Phase 3 project. Now, with the urban development department's approval of the Phase 3A plan, Metro officials indicated that this represents the first central government-level approval for a project aimed at significantly reducing traffic congestion.

In June of the previous year, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) submitted the DPR for the project to the state government, which then forwarded it to the central government for approval.

As per the DPR, the project will feature 28 stations, with both underground and elevated sections. The elevated route will run from Sarjapur to Koramangala 3rd Block, with 15 stations planned for that section.

An underground section will connect the 3rd Block to the Veterinary College, featuring 11 stations, while elevated stations will also be built at Ganga Nagar and Hebbal. Sources revealed that discussions have occurred between the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the city development department regarding the planned underground route in Hebbal.