Namma Metro Influence Zone: The 11-Metre Rule Near Underground Stretches in Bengaluru
Karnataka's 2020 gazette notification declares 11 metres on either side of Namma Metro's underground tunnels, ramps and stations an Influence Zone, where new construction, borewells and alterations need BMRCL's consent and an NOC for civic approvals. Here is what it means for a Bengaluru buyer.
Eleven metres. That is the width of the strip, measured in plan from the outer edge of a Namma Metro tunnel, ramp or underground station, that the Karnataka government declared the "Influence Zone of Bangalore Metro" in a notification dated 11 May 2020. Inside it, according to the notification published in the Karnataka Gazette on 12 May 2020, no new construction, borewell drilling, demolition or alteration is permitted without the consent of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
For a Bengaluru buyer looking at an old house to rebuild, a plot to build on, or a resale flat in a building that may need repairs, that strip can matter more than the metro station's distance on a brochure. This guide explains what the notification says and what to check. It does not assess any property or locality.
The short answer. The notification, No. UDD 110 PRJ 2020, issued under Sections 20 and 21 of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, declares 11 metres on either side of Namma Metro's underground structures, including the width of those structures, as the Influence Zone. No new construction, drilling of boreholes, or demolition, modification or alteration of existing structures is permitted there without BMRCL's consent, and a BMRCL NOC is mandatory for statutory approvals from agencies such as the BDA, BBMP and BWSSB. The trade-off: a property inside the zone can still be bought, but any future building work, borewell or redevelopment adds an extra approval step.
What does the Influence Zone notification say?
It defines a protected strip and restricts work inside it. The notification states that "keeping in view the safety of the structures of 'Namma Metro'", the Government of Karnataka, exercising powers under Sections 20 and 21 of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, declares "11meters of width in Plan from the outer edge of the Metro Underground Structures (Tunnel/Ramp/Station) on either side including the width of Metro Structures (Tunnel/Ramp/Station) as 'Influence Zone of Bangalore Metro.'"
It then says: "No New Construction of structures, Drilling of Boreholes, Demolitions/Modifications/Alterations of the existing structures in the 'Influence Zone of Bangalore Metro' is permitted without the consent of BMRCL."
The notification was issued in the name of the Governor of Karnataka by the Under Secretary to Government (PMC) in the Urban Development Department, and was published in Part III of the Karnataka Gazette. BMRCL hosts it on its website under the heading "Influence Zone", alongside a separate link for its underground sections.
What activities need BMRCL's consent?
Three categories, all of which matter to property owners. The notification lists new construction of structures; drilling of boreholes; and demolitions, modifications or alterations of existing structures.
Each maps onto a common buyer plan. A buyer of an independent house who intends to knock it down and rebuild falls under demolition and new construction. A buyer of a plot who needs a borewell because piped water is not yet available falls under drilling. And an owner who wants to add a floor, cut an opening or change the structure of an existing building falls under modification or alteration.
The notification does not, on its face, restrict buying, selling, renting or living in an existing building in the zone. Its restrictions attach to physical work. That is why the buyer's question is not "can I buy here?" but "what will I want to do with this property, and when?"
| Buyer plan | Activity under the notification | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Rebuild an old house | Demolition and new construction | Whether the plot falls within 11 metres of an underground metro structure |
| Build on a vacant plot | New construction of structures | BMRCL NOC requirement before plan approval from the civic agency |
| Sink a borewell | Drilling of boreholes | BMRCL consent before any drilling inside the zone |
| Add a floor or alter a flat | Modification or alteration of an existing structure | BMRCL consent, plus the building's own approvals |
| Buy a resale flat to live in | No work in itself | Whether future repairs or redevelopment would need BMRCL consent |
Why does the BMRCL NOC matter for building approvals?
Because the notification ties it to every civic approval. It says that a "No Objection Certificate (NOC) shall be obtained from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited for any activity in this Influence Zone. This NOC is Mandatory for obtaining Statuary approvals from other Civic Agencies like BDA, BBMP and BWSSB or any other such agencies."
In practice, that means the NOC is not a separate formality you can skip and fix later. If a property sits in the zone, a plan sanction, a water connection approval or a similar statutory approval from those agencies requires the BMRCL NOC first. A buyer who plans to build should factor that extra step into the timeline and ask the architect or planning consultant to confirm whether the plot is in the zone before the purchase is finalised.
The notification names the BDA, BBMP and BWSSB, but its words also cover "any other such agencies", so the NOC requirement is not limited to the three bodies named. Ask the civic body that handles approvals for your property today how it applies the requirement.
What does the zone mean for a resale flat?
Less on day one, more over the building's life. Buying and moving into an existing flat is not one of the activities the notification lists. But apartment buildings age. Structural repairs, an extra floor approved for the building, or redevelopment many years later would involve modification, alteration, demolition or new construction, each of which the notification says needs BMRCL's consent if the building is inside the zone.
That makes the zone a question for your due diligence file rather than a deal-breaker. Ask the seller and the apartment association whether the building is within the Influence Zone, whether any BMRCL NOC has ever been sought for it, and whether any work is planned. If a lender is involved, its legal and technical team may also want to know.
Does the rule cover elevated metro lines?
The 2020 notification, as published, refers only to underground structures. Its definition covers "Metro Underground Structures (Tunnel/Ramp/Station)". It does not mention elevated viaducts or elevated stations.
That does not mean there are no rules near elevated lines. It means this particular notification does not set them, and this guide does not cover what other rules may apply. If you are buying near an elevated stretch, ask the planning authority and BMRCL what applies to the specific plot before you commit.
Other metro cities have their own versions of this idea. PropNewz explained Chennai's in our guide to the Chennai Metro protection zone and CMRL NOC, which uses different distances and rules.
Which future lines could bring new underground stretches?
BMRCL's upcoming projects page lists one. It shows Phase 3A, from Sarjapur to Hebbal, as 36.59 km long, with 14.45 km underground and 22.14 km elevated, and 28 stations, of which 11 are underground and 17 elevated. The same page says the detailed project report is being prepared.
For a buyer, that is a reason to watch, not a reason to act. Until an alignment is fixed and the underground sections are confirmed in official documents, it is not possible to say which plots would fall within 11 metres of a future tunnel or station. Treat any claim that a specific property is "on the metro line" as something to verify against BMRCL's published alignment when it is available.
For metro lines already under construction, our coverage of the Pink Line's safety inspection along Bannerghatta Road tracks the latest official steps.
How can a Bengaluru buyer check a property against the zone?
By combining the notification with site-specific confirmation. The notification itself does not include a street-by-street list, so the check has to be done property by property.
- Find out whether any Namma Metro tunnel, ramp or underground station runs near the property, using BMRCL's published information on its underground sections.
- Ask your architect or surveyor to estimate the distance from the property to the outer edge of the nearest underground structure.
- If the property may be within 11 metres, write to BMRCL to ask whether it falls in the Influence Zone.
- List what you plan to do with the property, such as rebuilding, adding a floor or drilling a borewell, and note which need BMRCL consent.
- For any building plan, budget time for the BMRCL NOC before applying for approval from the civic agency.
- For a resale flat, ask the seller or association whether any BMRCL NOC has been sought or issued for the building.
- Keep copies of the notification, any BMRCL correspondence and any NOC with your property documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Namma Metro Influence Zone?
A Karnataka government notification dated 11 May 2020 declares 11 metres of width in plan from the outer edge of Namma Metro's underground structures, meaning tunnels, ramps and stations, on either side and including the width of those structures, as the Influence Zone of Bangalore Metro.
Can I drill a borewell near a Namma Metro tunnel?
Not inside the Influence Zone without BMRCL's consent. The notification says no new construction of structures, drilling of boreholes, or demolitions, modifications or alterations of existing structures in the Influence Zone is permitted without the consent of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited.
Do I need a BMRCL NOC for a building plan in the Influence Zone?
Yes. The notification says an NOC shall be obtained from BMRCL for any activity in the Influence Zone, and that this NOC is mandatory for obtaining statutory approvals from civic agencies such as the BDA, the BBMP and the BWSSB, or any other such agencies.
Does the Influence Zone rule cover elevated metro lines?
The 2020 notification, as published, refers only to the Metro's underground structures: tunnels, ramps and stations. It does not describe elevated viaducts or elevated stations. For a plot near an elevated line, ask BMRCL and the planning authority what rules apply before you commit to buying.
This article explains a published Karnataka government notification for information only and is not legal advice. For a specific property, confirm the position with BMRCL and the planning authority, and consult a professional before buying or building.
Last updated 2026-11-11. PropNewz Team.
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