Bengaluru: Rail-cum-road double-decker flyover likely on KSR City–Kengeri corridor

Suburban rail-cum-road double-decker flyover

A 16-km suburban rail-cum-road double-decker flyover has been proposed between KSR Bengaluru City and Kengeri.

Sources told Moneycontrol that Bengaluru's civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), which is executing the Bengaluru suburban rail project, have agreed to the project in principle.

The double-decker flyover proposal is likely to give a fresh lease of life to the 35-km Parijatha Line, which connects Whitefield in the east to Kengeri in the west and has been stalled.

Also, read: End Of The Line: Bengaluru suburban rail's Whitefield-Kengeri corridor likely to be scrapped

Sources said K-RIDE has proposed constructing the corridor as a double-decker structure, with two lanes of a road flyover (7.5 metres carriage width each) at Level-1 and the suburban railway at Level-2.

"This suburban corridor will run parallel to the existing railway track and provide direct connectivity to Kengeri and other areas," a source said.

The double-decker suburban corridor will also offer direct connectivity from Majestic (Bengaluru City) to Jagajeevanram Nagar, Vijayanagar, Kengeri, NICE Road, and Kempegowda Layout.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro's extension to outskirts, double-decker flyovers; contracts awarded for feasibility studies

However, there is still no clarity on whether the remaining Bengaluru-Cantonment section will be double-decker, at-grade, elevated, or underground.

“It is expected that travel from Majestic to Kempegowda Layout (around 16 km) will take just 20 minutes, compared to one hour during non-peak hours and much longer during peak times” said an official.

“Data from the IISc ridership analysis report highlights that, by 2041, the suburban rail is expected to carry 1.29 lakh passengers per peak hour, while the metro will carry 1.19 lakh passengers under the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) scenario. This highlights the necessity of MRTS systems along with an elevated road corridor to effectively handle future transport demands and prevent overloading on the MRTS network”, it said.

Estimated cost

Officials estimate that constructing the suburban rail as a double-decker (elevated, signal-free road corridor along with the suburban rail) between Majestic and Kengeri (16 km) will cost around Rs 2,611 crore—Rs 2,128 crore for construction and Rs 483 crore for additional land acquisition of about 23 acres—which is in addition to the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) cost.

Also, read: Bengaluru's first double-decker flyover is finally ready

"Both the DFR of the suburban rail project and IISc reports show substantial demand growth, with IISc projecting a much higher ridership potential. This suggests that the corridor will relieve congestion across other transport modes within city limits. By complementing urban transit, the double-decker suburban rail will reduce the load on the Metro Purple Line, ensuring a balanced and efficient transit ecosystem.", the official adds.

This corridor, part of the 148-km Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, is now under review due to concerns about its alignment with Namma Metro’s 43-km Purple Line, which connects Whitefield (Kadugodi) in the east to Challaghatta in the west.

Speaking at the CNBC-TV18 and Moneycontrol Global AI Conclave 2024, Infrastructure Development Minister Patil said, "After I took over as the Infrastructure Development Minister, we have brought the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project under control, except for one corridor, which is almost unfeasible. We have already held a meeting with V Somanna, and the project is now on track."

Separately, a similar 3.35-km double-decker flyover between Ragigudda and the Central Silk Board on Marenahalli Road was inaugurated in June 2024. K-RIDE is also planning another double-decker flyover along a 1.5-km stretch between Mathikere and Lottegollahalli.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar said that all upcoming metro lines in Bengaluru, including Corridor 1 from JP Nagar Phase 4 to Kempapura (32.15 km) and Corridor 2 from Hosahalli to Kadabagere (12.5 km) will be constructed as part of double-decker flyover projects. “This 41-km double-decker corridor (road-cum-Metro rail) is estimated to cost Rs 18,000 crore”, an official.

Also, read: Karnataka to spend Rs 1 lakh crore to improve Bengaluru’s traffic, says deputy CM DK Shivakumar