Bengaluru suburban rail: After L&T’s exit, K-RIDE to invite fresh tenders for two corridors

Bengaluru suburban rail project

K-RIDE (Rail Infrastructure Development Company [Karnataka] Limited), a joint venture of Karnataka government and Union Ministry of Railways, which is executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, has decided to invite fresh tenders for two corridors that were earlier awarded to L&T.

K-RIDE Board, chaired by Karnataka chief secretary on October 6 decided to invite fresh tenders for the balance civil works of Corridor-2 (Mallige Line -Benniganahalli to Chikkabanawara) in three packages and authorised the Managing Director of K-RIDE to take necessary action to continue the work without further delay.

Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail: K-RIDE may re-tender two corridors after standoff with L&T

L&T–K-RIDE standoff halts progress

Moneycontrol had reported on September 9 that K-RIDE might re-tender two corridors following its standoff with L&T.

The dispute began after K-RIDE reportedly failed to hand over the required land, leading the L&T to suspend work on two key corridors - 25-km Mallige Line (Baiyyappanahalli-Chikkabanawara) and the 46-km Kanaka Line (Heelalige–Rajanukunte) - since March 2025.

Fresh tenders by Dec for Corridor-2

“This decision was taken based on the advice of the Advocate General of the Government of Karnataka to invite fresh tenders for the balance civil works, pending arbitration proceedings. Accordingly, the tenders will be invited in three packages for Corridor-2 and awarded by December 2025,” a K-RIDE statement said on October 6.

“Similarly, tenders for the balance civil works of Corridor-4 (Heelalige–Rajanukunte) are also expected to be invited with suitable tender packages in November 2025. This critical decision was taken by the board following the unilateral and illegal termination of both Corridor-2 and Corridor-4 contracts by L&T,” the statement added.

Also, read: Karnataka minister pulls up L&T for slow pace of work, says Bengaluru suburban rail might not be ready by Aug 2025

Arbitration proceedings underway

Earlier, L&T had entered into two agreements with K-RIDE for Corridor-2 (Chikkabanawara–Benniganahalli) and Corridor-4 (Heelalige-Rajanukunte) on August 26, 2022, and December 30, 2023, respectively. The contract periods were subsequently extended up to September 2026 and October 2026 upon the contractor’s request.

“Arbitration proceedings between L&T and K-RIDE have commenced, with retired judges of the High Court and Supreme Court nominated to a three-member Board of Arbitrators. Parallelly, K-RIDE is contesting the stay granted by the Commercial Court on the encashment of the bank guarantee,” the statement said.

Project still far from complete

Union government approved the 148-km Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project in October 2020 with a six-year deadline (2026). In June 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while laying the foundation stone, had promised to complete the long-delayed four-corridor project - stalled for over 40 years - within 40 months.

However, K-RIDE is yet to float civil work tenders for the remaining two corridors - Sampige Line (KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli) and Parijaata Line (Kengeri–Whitefield).

Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail project near standstill amid Karnataka–Centre tussle