Union minister of state for railways V Somanna on September 9 said that two Bengaluru suburban rail corridors—Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara (25 km) and Heelalige to Rajanukunte (46.8 km)—will be operational by December 2026.
Somanna, along with Karnataka minister for commerce and industries and infrastructure MB Patil, reviewed the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) and other railway projects in the state on September 9.
Earlier, Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), the special purpose vehicle (SPV) executing the project, had said the 8 km priority section of the Benniganahalli-Chikkabanavara (Mallige Line) from Chikkabanavara to Yeshwantpur will be completed by the end of 2025.
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Somanna said: “Steps have now been taken to expedite the work, and both corridor projects will be inaugurated within the stipulated time frame. After this, the implementation of the remaining two corridor projects will be discussed."
Speaking to reporters after the review meeting, the ministers said officials have requested three months to resolve land acquisition issues. "They have been strictly instructed to ensure no further delays after that," the ministers added.
Somanna stressed the need for coordination between Bengaluru Metro, K-RIDE, and South Western Railway authorities. "Instead of competing with each other, agencies should focus on serving areas with no coverage. Coordination meetings should also include BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) officials. By working in a complementary manner, unnecessary delays can be avoided," he said.
During the meeting, Patil also raised concerns about the lack of bidders for the tenders floated by K-RIDE for the supply of coaches. In response, Somanna assured that he would facilitate a meeting with the Union railways minister in Delhi to resolve the issue. Officials also pointed out that the procurement of coaches should be completed at least six months before the scheduled launch date.
Patil also highlighted the need to extend the suburban railway project. "There are discussions about linking Bengaluru to nearby cities such as Tumakuru, Mysuru, Magadi, Gauribidanur and Kolar," he said. They also explored the possibility of extending the KSR Bengaluru City-Yelahanka-Devanahalli suburban railway corridor directly to Kolar from Devanahalli, instead of routing it via Chikkaballapur.
Also read: Bengaluru suburban rail to airport is finally on track, civil work tenders soon
The meeting also discussed integrating the suburban railway project with the proposed ring rail around Bengaluru. SWR had proposed a 281 km circular railway project, which costs about Rs 23,000 crore.
Suburban rail project status
K-RIDE officials said that 25 km Mallige Line was awarded to Larsen & Toubro at a cost of Rs 859.97 crore in August 2022. So far, 28 percent of physical progress and 22 percent of financial progress has been achieved.
Similarly, civil works contract for Heelalige-Rajanukunte (Kanaka Line) was awarded to L&T in 2023 at a cost of Rs 1,040 crore, with a completion timeline of 30 months. However, only utility shifting work has begun so far.
On the status of the 41 km Sampige Line (KSR Bengaluru to Yelahanka–Devanahalli), K-RIDE officials said a revised plan has been submitted to the Bengaluru division of SWR for approval. “Sampige Line is divided into two packages: KSR Bengaluru City to Yelahanka (17.63 km) and Yelahanka to Devanahalli (23 km). The tender for the KSR Bengaluru City-Yelahanka section will be opened on October 9, 2024, while the tender documents for Yelahanka-Devanahalli are still being prepared,” said a K-RIDE statement.
Also read: Karnataka govt sets 2028 deadline for entire Bengaluru suburban rail project
“For the Parijaata Line, the alignment plan—featuring one track on either side from Kengeri to Bengaluru Cantonment—is awaiting approval from SWR,” it said.
“The rolling stock procurement will be on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the Government of Karnataka (GoK) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR). This proposal is now awaiting approval from the GoK and railway board”, it said
“BSRP aims to connect Bengaluru city to its suburbs and satellite townships, and is expected to carry around 9.84 lakh passengers per day upon completion, easing the city's road traffic congestion," it added.
Also, read: Bengaluru suburban rail expansion plans to satellite towns stalled as South Western Railway raises red flags
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