Amid lobbying allegations, BMRCL slashes land request for Hebbal depot plan

Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Monday (July 14, 2025) chaired a key review meeting on Namma Metro’s land acquisition proposal in Hebbal for a new depot and multi-modal transport hub, a move that has stirred controversy amid allegations of real estate lobbying.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) had initially proposed to acquire 45 acres in Hebbal for developing a depot to house trains for the upcoming Phase 3A (Hebbal-Sarjapur line), alongside a comprehensive multi-modal hub with parking and other facilities. However, the corporation has now reportedly reduced its land requirement to just 9 acres.

The land in question was initially acquired nearly 20 years ago for a private project. Due to the developer’s failure to make timely payments, it remained under the control of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). BMRCL had originally sought the land from KIADB to facilitate its infrastructure plans.

Sources said that during the high-level meeting chaired by Ms. Rajneesh, BMRCL confirmed a scaled-down land demand. This unexpected shift has raised eyebrows, especially since Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Industries Minister M.B. Patil had earlier assured that the land would be dedicated to support Bengaluru’s growing public transport infrastructure.

Former minister and Rajajinagar BJP MLA Suresh Kumar has strongly opposed any move to divert the land for private interests. He alleged that the city’s long-term mobility needs were being sidelined in favour of short-term gains.