Silk Board Travelator: ₹58.99 Crore Plan to Cut 250m Walk for Namma Metro Yellow-Blue Line Switch

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has floated a tender to build a travelator and elevated walkway at Silk Board Junction, aiming to connect two key corridors of the network that currently lack a seamless interchange. The proposed link will connect the Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra) stretch with the upcoming Blue Line (Silk Board-KR Puram) corridor along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) at the same junction, where the two stations are located about 250 metres apart.

The project, part of Phase-2 works, has been estimated at ₹58.99 crore and includes civil construction, structural work and architectural finishing. According to tender details, bids can be submitted until April 28, with technical bids scheduled to be opened on May 5. Once the contract is awarded and work begins, BMRCL has set a nine-month completion timeline.

The need for this connection comes from the way the interchange has been designed. While both stations fall under the same Silk Board hub, they are not directly connected internally. The RV Road-Bommasandra corridor has been operational since August 2025, offering connectivity towards south Bengaluru, including Electronic City. Meanwhile, the Silk Board-KR Puram line, which runs along the Outer Ring Road and serves the eastern IT corridor, is still under construction.

Until the walkway is completed, passengers switching between these two lines will have to exit one station and walk through the Silk Board junction to reach the other. This is a major concern given the location. Silk Board remains one of the busiest traffic points in the city, and any interchange without an internal connection reduces the convenience that metro systems are expected to provide.

The timing of the project has also raised questions among commuters. The KR Puram-bound stretch is expected to open later this year, but the travelator itself will take around nine months after work starts. This creates a situation where the line could begin operations without a proper interchange in place. In such a scenario, commuters may have to rely on road-level movement between stations until the walkway is ready.

At the same time, the project is expected to play a crucial role once completed. Silk Board sits at a key junction connecting south Bengaluru with the eastern IT corridor, and a direct internal link will significantly improve movement between these regions. It will allow passengers to switch lines within the station area instead of navigating traffic outside.

The tender documents show that the scope includes a dedicated elevated walkway supported by structural elements, along with architectural finishing to handle heavy passenger movement. The connection is being designed as more than just a basic pathway, with the aim of creating a proper interchange experience at one of the city's busiest transit nodes.

BMRCL has also indicated earlier that as the network expands, infrastructure such as travelators, escalators and elevators will become critical, especially at major interchange stations. The Silk Board connection fits into that larger plan, though its delayed execution has become a point of concern.

What is a travelator?

A travelator, or moving walkway, is a flat motorised belt that helps people cover distances faster. It works like an escalator without steps, allowing passengers to walk or stand while being carried forward. It does not replace walking but reduces effort and time, especially in large transit spaces.

In the case of Silk Board, the travelator is not just an added feature but a necessary link. Without it, passengers are left to manage a 250-metre transfer through one of the city's most congested junctions. With it, the interchange becomes seamless, keeping movement within the station system itself.