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Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Slow-moving Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project finally gets a special deputy commissioner
Nearly three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised in a speech that the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) would be completed in 40 months, the Karnataka government on Monday appointed Dr Vasanthi Amar as special deputy commissioner for K-RIDE, the implementing agency of the long-pending project. The development comes amid calls for a full-time managing director to steer the slow-moving project on a war footing. Currently, K-RIDE, a special purpose vehicle, is headed by managing director (MD) Dr Manjula N, who also holds an additional charge of secretary to government, infrastructure development, ports and inland water transport department. Rail enthusiasts and BJP MPs have been demanding a full-time MD, who is also a technocrat, to undertake the 149 km BSRP network. 'I've consistently sought for the appointment of a full-time MD for @KridePrm to ensure effective management and timely completion of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail project. My 15-Point Action Plan to DCM @DKShivakumar last week also emphasises this, along with multiple interventions in the past,' Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya said in a post on X on Monday. I've consistently sought for the appointment of a full-time MD for @KridePrm to ensure effective management and timely completion of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail project. My 15-Point Action Plan to DCM @DKShivakumar last week also emphasises this, along with multiple… — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 26, 2025 'With a Special Deputy Commissioner now appointed, I hope serious progress and focused action begin on this long-pending, crucial step for Bengaluru's urban mobility. But we still press our demand for a full time technocrat MD for the SPV,' he added. Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan also expressed displeasure over the lack of a full-time MD for the last two years for the Rs 18,600 crore project. 'K-RIDE, executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail project, has had no full-time MD for 2 years. Instead, a 2017-batch officer who has been awaiting posting for years has been made Special Deputy Commissioner. How can such a critical project run on part-time, inexperienced leadership?' the parliamentarian questioned in a post on X on Monday. He also asked, 'My questions to the State Govt: Was this an existing post at K-RIDE, or was it specially created to accommodate a junior officer awaiting posting? Is this the seriousness with which a ₹15,767 Cr project is handled? A full-time MD must be appointed without further delay.' The BSRP spans 149.348 km across four corridors: Sampige (KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli, 41.4 km), Mallige (Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara, 25.01 km), Parijaata (Kengeri to Whitefield, 35.52 km), and Kanaka (Heelalige to Rajanukunte, 46.24 km). Of all the corridors, only Corridor 2 has seen some progression, yet at a slow pace, with less than 30 per cent of the works completed. The civil work tender was awarded to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on August 26, 2022, for Rs 859.97 crore. However, L&T has reportedly hinted at pulling out of the project due to land acquisition hurdles. L&T has cited the non-availability of land as a primary reason for halting work. Approximately 28.56 acres of private land and 91 acres of railway land are required for Corridor 2, but delays in land handover by South Western Railway and K-RIDE have stalled progress. Private landowners have obtained court stay orders, and some demand higher compensation, further complicating acquisition. The 7.4 km section between Chikkabanavara and Yeshwantpur as part of Corridor 2 was targeted for completion by 2025 end, with the full corridor expected to be operational by December 2026. However, with the current pace of work, K-RIDE is doubtful of meeting its deadlines. As for the rolling stock, the initial public-private partnership (PPP) model for procuring 306 rail coaches failed due to a lack of bids. A new equity model with 50:50 funding (Rs 2,135 crore from Karnataka, awaiting Union railway ministry approval) has been okayed by the Karnataka Cabinet in November 2024. Tenders are ready but await the central government order and Railway Board approval.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Critical for city, yet stuck': MP Tejasvi Surya slams delays in Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project
Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya expressed frustration over the slow progress of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) during a Public Accounts Committee meeting in Delhi on Thursday. Criticising the lack of coordination between the railways and the Karnataka state government, Surya highlighted the project's minimal advancement, essential for easing Bengaluru's traffic congestion and providing affordable transport to lakhs of daily commuters. 'The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project is critical for the city, yet it remains stuck with only a couple of tenders finalised,' Surya said, addressing the authorities managing the Rs 15,767-crore, 148-km suburban rail network. Approved in 2022, the project's completion has been delayed to 2027 due to stalled corridors. Surya urged the railways to prioritise its execution to meet Bengaluru's urgent needs, and raised concerns about the underutilised railway lines operating at just 25 per cent capacity and the absence of a new direct express train between Bengaluru and Mumbai. 'For 30 years, no new direct train has been introduced between these two economic hubs. The Udyan Express is the only option, pushing travellers to costlier flights,' he said. Surya also demanded the immediate introduction of a Superfast Express and reiterated the need for a proposed High-Speed Rail corridor connecting Bengaluru, Hubballi, Pune, and Mumbai. 'This high-speed corridor will transform connectivity and boost North Karnataka's economy,' he added. The MP further called for expanding Bengaluru's suburban rail network, doubling critical railway lines, upgrading station infrastructure, and improving integration between railway and metro stations. 'These long-pending projects deserve serious attention, and the railways must act without delay,' Surya urged. The delay in the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project has also received extensive backlash from civic groups. Many have pointed out that the works on corridors 2 and 4 have stopped, with no clarity yet from K-RIDE, which is implementing the project. 'BSRP is slated to provide the 3rd option of public transport after bus and Metro. Unfortunately, BSRP has already faced numerous delays on various grounds. A classic example is: work on the most important Corridor 1 (to Airport Terminal) is yet to begin, 55 months after sanction. The present status does not bode well for the city and is bound to not only delay further the solution but will also lead to cost escalations,' Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of Citizens 4 Citizens forum, said. A December 2024 expert committee report from the Indian Institute of Science also states that almost 20 lakh people will directly benefit from using BSRP corridors for their daily commute.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's Cantonment project that may axe 368 trees aims to fund suburban rail
Bengaluru: Amidst a furore over a proposal to cut 368 trees on eight acres of land at Cantonment Railway Colony in the heart of the city for commercial activity, the authorities have said the venture is being taken up to fund the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). A public notice from BBMP on April 25 invited objections to the proposed tree felling, leaving many shocked over the silence that surrounded the envisaged development. Sources in the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) said the commercial activity which is expected to fetch a one-time revenue of Rs 300 crore, is largely driven by financial constraints. With the Railways reportedly not in a position to contribute its 20% share for BSRP, RLDA decided to lease out the Cantonment land and channel 80% of the revenue to fund BSRP, the sources said. Texworth Pvt Ltd in collaboration with Bagmane Developers, has won the bid for using the land for 60 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hollywood Actress Leaks Weight Loss Trick, Gets Fired! nutritiouslivingtips Learn More Undo A senior RLDA official told TOI, "Railways is leasing out the land for commercial development to meet the needs of Bengaluru city and as permitted under local bylaws. While the bid for the land is finalised, the purpose of the use of the land and what kind of development will take place is yet to be finalised. As Cantonment is a very old area, the development is certain to give rise to jobs and boost the economy of the state and country." BBMP to consider objections Meanwhile, objections are pouring in. BBMP's forest department confirmed that they have received a large number of public objections in the first six days of the 10-day window for responses. The local body's deputy conservator of forests BLG Swamy said, "We have limited clarity on what kind of commercial activity has been planned. However, this is just the first round of consultation, and there is a long way to go. The tree expert committee (TEC) has not yet made recommendations on which trees are to be cut or retained. Public objections will be reviewed, and only after proper govt sanctions, the final number of trees to be felled will be determined." —- box Online petition gets 6k signatures An online petition, 'Halt Butchery of 368 Mature Trees at Cantonment Railway Station for Commercial Development', initiated by citizen group Heritage Beku on gathered 6,876 signatures by Wednesday evening. The petition reads, "An autocratic decision has been made to cut down 368 mature trees on this heritage railway land to facilitate a commercial project. Ignorance and misguided priorities saw us lose the signature arched platform at the railway station. This cannot be our fate yet again. The errant free reign of these development projects must be checked. Railways wants to take full control, utterly disregarding Bengaluru's desperate need for greenery and the citizens' pleas for sustainable development. We cannot stand by as more ecological butchery happens before our eyes." ———- quote My friends and I have fond memories of planting in the Cantonment area a few saplings we got from Cubbon Park and Lalbagh 15 years ago and it is disheartening even to think that these trees are going to be cut. We have been sending our objections to BBMP as doing away with nearly 400 trees is not a joke. The more of us write to the authorities, the greater is the probability that they will reconsider this harmful proposal. These trees are a vital part of Bengaluru's already shrinking green cover. Losing them means accelerating the acute water crisis, worsening air quality and ecological imbalance. We have just about a week to send in our objections and save these trees -Alexander James, Cantonment area resident
