The government on Thursday approved the long-awaited metro rail project for Bangalore, which will be implemented over a period of five years at a cost of Rs 6,395 crore.

The project, which will be a partnership between the Centre, Karnataka government and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, will have two rail corridors totalling 33 kms. The project, to have a 70:30 debt equity ratio, will have a Japanese loan component.

Announcing the Cabinet decision, an official spokesperson said it will have a east-west corridor of 18.1 km and a and north-south corridor of 14.9 kms. Both the corridors will have elevated, underground and a small portion of surface rail lines.

While the east-west corridor will be between Byappanhalli and Mysore Road and have a total of 18 stations, the north-south corridor will be from Yeshwantpur Railway Station to Jaynagar and have 14 stations.