27-05-2025
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.
