CAG flags cost overruns, low ridership and land acquisition issues in Bengaluru Metro Phase 1 and 2
A CAG audit report has identified significant failures in the planning, execution, and financial management of Bengaluru Metro's first two phases. The report highlights low ridership numbers and a lack of proper mobility planning as major concerns.
Why it matters
The findings raise questions about the efficiency of large-scale infrastructure spending and the long-term viability of urban transit projects in India.
The implementation of Phase 1 and 2 of the Bengaluru Metro project by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) faced significant shortcomings in planning, land acquisition, project execution, financial management and operations, according to a performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
The CAG Performance Audit Report No. 7 of 2026, covering the implementation of Phase 1 and 2 of the Bengaluru Metro project, was tabled in Parliament on Monday (August 10). The audit examined planning, implementation, monitoring and operations of the two phases since their inception up to March 2021, while the physical and financial progress of selected contracts was reviewed up to March 2023. Phase 2A and 2B were excluded from the audit.
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