Bengaluru metro rail would connect the international airport at Devanahalli to the city to ferry thousands of air passengers daily by 2021, said a Karnataka Minister on Monday.

"The state cabinet has approved the detailed project report to build the 30 km line between Nagawara on the city's eastern ring road and the Kempegowda international airport (KIA) at an outlay of Rs 5,950 crore," state Law Minister TB Jayachandra told reporters.

Jayachandra said that once operational, more than 1.25 lakh passengers will be travelling on the metro every day. 

Initially catering to those in north Bengaluru (Jakkur, RK Hegde Nagar), Yelahanka (through Kogilu cross station) as well as upcoming industrial areas near Chikkajala, two more stations are proposed to reach KIA.

The state-run Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd operates the 42.3 km metro service under phase one on the city's east-west and north-south corridors, ferrying over 3 lakh commuters daily.

"Of the project cost, the Corporation will raise Rs 3,200 crore as long-term infrastructure loans from banks and financial institutions, while the state and central governments will share the remaining cost," said Jayachandra.

At a meeting presided by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it was decided to charge a user development fee of between Rs 60 and Rs 80 on airport passengers to fund the airport metro line partially. The state government is expected to contribute Rs 1,250 crore to the project. 

The 30 km new service will have seven stations in between and connect the air passengers and city commuters with the city's other areas with inter-connectivity and inter-change facility at key terminals.

Funded by the state and central governments, the operator is building the second phase of the public transport to extend its service by 72 km by 2020.

"The service to airport will be an extension of the second phase from Gottigere to Nagawara on the north-south corridor," added Jayachandra.

(With IANS inputs)