The Karnataka government has officially reserved 45 acres of strategically located land in Hebbal, Bengaluru, exclusively for Metro rail and tunnel road infrastructure, marking a shift from earlier considerations of handing it over to private realtors.

Initially acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) nearly two decades ago for a tourism project that never materialised, the land has since been eyed by private developers for commercial and residential ventures. However, the government has now affirmed its commitment to infrastructure development in the area.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, speaking after a high-level meeting on critical infrastructure projects, stated, "The Hebbal land is essential for implementation of both the projects and the govt is determined to ensure its availability." He emphasised that the land would be used for the Metro and tunnel projects as it sits at a crucial junction and added that compensation would follow government norms, including mechanisms like transferable development rights (TDR), floor area ratio (FAR), or monetary payouts.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), which had requested the land transfer last year, plans to develop a major transit hub that includes a depot, multi-level car parking, and auxiliary infrastructure. According to officials, the transit hub will integrate three Metro lines—Blue, Orange, and Red, into a single interchange point, alongside a suburban railway station. Five acres near an existing BMTC depot have already been identified, and an additional 10 acres are being sought to complete the hub.

The tunnel road project, which also intersects at the Hebbal junction, may require two to three acres more. Additionally, a road improvement project along the drainage channel linking Hebbal Lake to Nagawara is in progress, intended to decongest the Outer Ring Road. This project, led by BBMP, forms part of the broader transport infrastructure upgrade in the area.