Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project faces delays
The much-anticipated Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) faces continued delays, with the deadline now revised to 2027 by the Karnataka government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had originally promised in June 2022 that the project, which had been pending for 40 years, would be completed in 40 months, that is, by December 2025.
BSRP, sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways with a project cost of ₹15,767 crore, aims to develop a suburban railway network spanning 148 km with 58 stations across four corridors. The project is funded through the equity contribution of the Karnataka government, the Ministry of Railways, and external borrowing in the ratio of 20:20:60.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya criticised the revised timeline. He had said: “Going by the way things were, even 2027 was an ambitious target.” He added: “I have spoken to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and they are ready to take over the project if the State government moots the proposal.”
Residents are expressing their dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the project. Srinivas Nayak, resident of Chikkabanavara, said: “When the suburban rail project was approved in October 2020, it was supposed to be completed in 72 months.”
Chandra Kumar, resident of Whiteeld, said: “As the election approaches, we call on MP candidates to make this important mobility project a priority and push for its timely completion for the public’s benet.”
Meanwhile, to address tra£c issues in the city, the Ministry of Railways proposed developing a circular rail network of around 287 km on the outskirts of Bengaluru last November. The proposed network will connect 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-Heelalagi (42 km).