Bengaluru: The phase 3 Metro line seems to stand scrapped in order to accommodate the elevated corridor project, say reports.

The proposed East-West Corridor 2 from Richmond Circle to Varthur passes along the 21 km Metro Phase 3 line proposed by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL).

The project is proposed to cater to the Hoskerehalli – Marathahalli stretch on either side of the Airport Road. None of the Metro lines or Railway lines passes through this area though they are congested.

The phase 3 of Metro rail project was first proposed to the Urban Development Ministry in May 2016 but it was not mentioned in the 2018-19 state budget.

Another Metro line from Carmelaram-Yelahanka was shortened to Iblur-Carmelaram.

As Metro phase 3 project was awaiting approval, the controversial pod taxi project was proposed on the same route.

Though the pod taxi project is now shelved, the elevated corridor project will definitely kill the phase 3 of the Metro line.

Another proposed Phase 3 Metro line from Yelahanka to Carmelaram would also have come into direct conflict with the North-South corridor from Hebbal to Silk Board junction.

The two lines which were in the pipeline for many years disappeared when the government was preparing a draft project report for Phase 3 in the 2017-18 budget.

The urban mobility analysts are not able to figure out why the government has not included Phase 3 Metro line in 2018-19 budgets and also why elevated corridor is replacing Metro lines in the Central Business District (CBD) as these Metro lines are critical for the CBD for the mass movement.