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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru MP urges Centre to intervene in Railway infrastructure delays
BENGALURU: Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan has urged Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways, V Somanna, to intervene in several critical railway infrastructure issues affecting Bengaluru. During a preliminary review meeting on the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) held on Saturday, Mohan highlighted that delays by civic bodies and a lack of inter-agency coordination continue to hamper progress. One of the major concerns raised was the stalled Carmelaram Road Over Bridge (ROB), which remains just 35% complete due to delays in land acquisition by BBMP. The incomplete project has led to the closure of the Carmelaram–Gunjur Road, causing severe inconvenience. Mohan also pointed to the underutilisation of the Panathur Road Underbridge (RUB), which, remains non-operational due to pending approach road. He proposed introducing a new superfast train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, noting that existing options like the Udyan Express take over 21 hours.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Circular rail network on Bengaluru's outskirts to cost Rs 81,000 crore
Bengaluru: The proposed Circular Rail Link Project on Bengaluru's outskirts requires an investment of Rs 81,000 crore and acquisition of 2,500 acres of land. Spanning 287km, the double-line circular network will connect Nidavanda, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, Heelalige, Solur and other peripheral towns. It aims to decongest rail traffic in the city's core areas and cater to residents on the outskirts and nearby districts by enabling more suburban rail services. On Saturday, minister of state for railways V Somanna held a meeting with MPs from Bengaluru and adjoining districts to discuss the project. The railway board sanctioned a final location survey (FLS), which is currently being conducted in phases. The minister said the central govt will fund the entire project. "This is a long-term initiative meant to benefit Bengaluru over the next 50 years," he said. The actual land requirement and cost will be finalised after the detailed project report (DPR) is ready. Completing the FLS is expected to take several months. Camelaram, Panathur works Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan submitted a requisition to Somanna, urging South Western Railway (SWR) to coordinate with BBMP to expedite pending RoB and RuB works at Carmelaram and Panathur. He noted that only 35% of the Carmelaram RoB is complete, causing prolonged closure of Carmelaram-Gunjur Road and affecting commuters. Similarly, the Panathur RuB is stalled due to BBMP's delay in acquiring land needed for the approach road and drainage. Need superfast train to Mumbai: Mohan Mohan called for a superfast train between Bengaluru and Mumbai, pointing out that the current Udyan Express takes over 20 hours. Despite repeated public requests, the railway board hasn't approved a faster service, he said. On the redevelopment of KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station, the MP said the proposal is pending with the railway board. He urged Somanna to initiate a feasibility study for a rapid rail transit system (RRTS) on key corridors such as Bengaluru-Tumakuru, Bengaluru-Ramanagara, Bengaluru-Mandya-Mysuru and Bengaluru-Kolar.
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.
