Bengaluru suburban rail's Phase 2 to cover 146 km, to link proposed circular rail

Bengaluru suburban rail project

Bengaluru suburban rail's Phase 2 project will cover 146 km and integrate with the proposed circular rail network.

Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company (K-RIDE), which is executing the Bengaluru suburban rail project, said the proposed extensions include a 146 km network covering Devanahalli to Chikkaballapur (18 km), Chikkabanavara to Kunigal (50 km), Chikkabanavara to Dobbaspet (36 km), Kengeri to Hejjala (11 km), Heelalige to Anekal Road (11 km), and Rajanukunte to Oderahalli (20 km).

The ongoing suburban rail project consists of four corridors with a total length of 148 km. This includes the 41.4 km Sampige Line connecting KSR Bengaluru City, Bengaluru Airport, and Devanahalli, 25 km Mallige Line connecting Benniganahalli and Chikkabanavara, 35.5 km Parijaata Line between Kengeri and Whitefield and 46.25 km stretch connecting Heelalige and Rajanukunte.

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Separately, Union Ministry of Railways has proposed a 287 km circular rail network around Bengaluru city, which connects key areas such as Nidvanda-Doddaballapur (40.9 km), Doddaballapur-Devanahalli (28.5 km), Devanahalli-Malur (46.5 km), Malur-Heelalige (52 km), Hejjala-Solur (43.5 km), Solur-Nidavanda (34.2 km), and Hejjala-Heelalige (42 km). Officials said that the DPR for the circular rail is being prepared.

A K-RIDE official told Moneycontrol: “We have sought approval from the Union Ministry of Railways to conduct a feasibility study for the suburban rail expansion and its integration with the proposed circular rail network.”

Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail expansion plans to satellite towns stalled as South Western Railway raises red flags

In the past, K-RIDE had proposed a 452 km expansion of the suburban rail network to link Bengaluru with nearby towns and cities, including Devanahalli-Chikkaballapur, Chikkaballapur-Kolar, Chikkabanavara-Tumakuru, Chikkabanavara-Magadi, Kengeri-Mysuru, Whitefield-Bangarpet, Heelalige-Hosur, and Rajanukunte-Gauribidanur. However, this proposal was rejected by the South Western Railway (SWR) last year.

In March 2023, railway board clarified that prior approval is required from the zonal railways to initiate any surveys for suburban rail projects.

Rail enthusiast Pruthvin Reddy welcomed the suburban rail’s extension plan. “It’s a positive move to connect the suburban rail with the circular railway. This will benefit residents of satellite towns and help decongest Bengaluru. Once the feasibility study is complete, K-RIDE will need to prepare a detailed project report (DPR), after which work can commence upon approvals from the Union and state governments.”

Also, read: Bengaluru's traffic conundrum: Metro rail to the outskirts, suburban rail confined to city limits, and tunnel vision