Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Karnataka government for the proposed 60-km Bengaluru–Tumakuru inter-district Namma Metro corridor connecting Madavara and Tumakuru via Nelamangala, Dabaspet, and Kyathasandra in Karnataka.

With the proposed extension of Namma Metro to Tumakuru, the system is set to become Karnataka’s first metro corridor connecting two districts. The DPR outlines two execution options for the 60-km project: direct implementation by BMRCL at an estimated cost of ₹18,000 crore, or development through a public-private partnership (PPP) model costing approximately ₹20,000 crore (US$2.08 billion). The proposed Metro corridor will originate from Madavara (BIEC), the existing terminal station of the Green Line of Namma Metro, and traverse through Nelamangala, Dabaspet, and Kyathasandra before reaching Tumakuru. Planned with 16 stations, the corridor is expected to bring down travel time between Bengaluru and Tumakuru to nearly one hour. Beyond Kyathasandra, the proposed alignment includes stations at Tumakuru University, Siddaganga Medical College, Tumakuru Bus Stand, and a terminal station at Sira Gate. To improve travel efficiency, the number of proposed stations has been reduced from 25 in the feasibility stage to 16 in the DPR.

With stations spaced approximately 4–5 km apart, the Metro corridor is expected to achieve higher operational speeds, resulting in shorter travel time between Bengaluru and Tumakuru. The project is projected to witness a daily ridership of nearly 3 lakh passengers. The proposed alignment has been strategically designed to serve major residential and industrial areas around Nelamangala and Dabaspet, while several stretches of the elevated corridor will run alongside the service road of Tumakuru Road (NH 48). 

However, the proposal has also triggered debate among urban mobility experts and citizens. Several experts argue that long-distance inter-city travel may be better served by alternatives such as a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) or suburban rail network, which could provide higher speeds at lower costs. Critics have questioned whether a Metro system, typically designed for intra-city movement, is the most suitable solution for the Bengaluru–Tumakuru corridor.