North Bangalore's long-awaited rail link to Kempegowda International Airport is inching forward, and the stretch through Hebbal, Yelahanka and Bagalur Cross is where much of the current activity is concentrated. The Blue Line's Phase 2B extends from KR Puram to the airport with key stations including Hebbal, Yelahanka and Bagalur Cross, and it forms the second half of a 58.19-km corridor that will eventually give the city its first direct metro link to the airport.
Recent site inspections by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) leadership underline the pace of work on this stretch. BMRCL Managing Director J Ravishankar inspected the ongoing construction on the Blue Line from Kempegowda International Airport to Hebbal, with the review covering viaduct construction, station buildings, and the upcoming depot at Shettigere. He also reviewed high-priority locations such as railway crossings and cut-and-cover sections near the Indian Air Force premises, instructing engineers and contractors to strictly adhere to target completion dates while maintaining safety protocols.
At the Hebbal end of the corridor, which functions as a critical interchange point, construction has entered an advanced phase, with most viaduct work along the Hebbal flyover stretch nearing completion. Hebbal is being developed as a major multi-modal hub since the Blue Line here will eventually connect to the proposed Orange and Red Lines, making it one of the busiest junctions on the future Namma Metro network. Further along the alignment, the depot works at Shettigere - where Blue Line trains will be serviced - have been progressing at a satisfactory pace, with land acquisition for the depot already completed.
Despite this momentum, Phase 2B has not been immune to delays. Industry trackers note that while Phase 2A trial runs are underway, Phase 2B between KR Puram and the airport is still facing delays due to land acquisition issues, utility shifting, and slower construction progress in certain sections. The airport line's revised target has moved to early 2027, a shift from earlier projections, reflecting the complexity of building through built-up urban stretches like Hebbal alongside greenfield sections near the airport.
For homebuyers and investors tracking the corridor, the station list matters as much as the timeline. Phase 2B is expected to cover stations such as Nagawara, Kempapura, Hebbal, Kodigehalli, Jakkur Cross, Yelahanka, Bagalur Cross, Bettahalasuru, Doddajala, Airport City and the KIAL Terminals stop, stitching together established residential belts with the fast-developing Aerospace Park and airport catchment. Once operational, this stretch is expected to cut travel time between the city and the airport dramatically compared to current road journeys.
The anticipation around this connectivity is already visible in real estate trends. Property values near stations like Yelahanka's Kogilu Cross and Bagalur Cross have reportedly risen by roughly 15-20% in recent project launches, as buyers price in the eventual metro access. Brigade Group, which has an established presence in this catchment through projects in Yelahanka and Hebbal, has continued to expand its North Bangalore portfolio, with recent launches in the ₹13,800-15,400 per sq ft range reflecting the premium positioning these micro-markets now command as the corridor progresses.
For now, the practical takeaway for anyone evaluating a home along this stretch is to track construction milestones rather than headline dates alone - viaduct completion at Hebbal, depot progress at Shettigere, and station finishing works at Yelahanka are the tangible markers of how close the airport link really is. As BMRCL continues its phased trials and inspections through 2026, the Hebbal-Yelahanka-Bagalur Cross stretch remains one of the most closely watched sections of Bengaluru's expanding metro map.
