Bengaluru Suburban Rail: A Strategic Solution to Overcome Traffic Woes and Enhance Mobility

Recognised as the “Silicon Valley of India,”, Bengaluru is home to large multinational technology companies and serves as a major semiconductor-centric aerospace and defence organisation. Additionally, Bengaluru houses several top-tier engineering and research institutions, along with state-owned the most prominent cities in India for high-technology-based heavy manufacturing industries. 

Due to its economic potential Bengaluru has attracted intellectuals from around the country which resulted in the growth of the urban population. The city stands as India’s 3rd most populous city and the fourth most populous urban agglomeration. Serving as the capital of Karnataka Bengaluru has a population exceeding 8 million, with a metropolitan population of around 15 million.

Existing Transport Modes in Bengaluru

Over the years, Bengaluru’s infrastructure has evolved to support the city’s growth in multifaceted ways and accommodate the growing number of residents in the city. The city is already served by a rapid transit system which is also named Bengaluru Metro or (Namma Metro) which stands as India’s second-largest metro network with 75.20 km of operational route that carries about 7.5 lakh daily passengers. Additionally, BMTC manages around 6,381 buses in the city.

Increasing Traffic Congestion: Highlighting Inadequacy of Public Transport

As of March 2024, Bengaluru reported a vehicular population exceeding 1.16 crore, of which 80% comprised privately owned vehicles. The city has experienced a critical increase in private vehicle registrations over the past year. According to data from the Transport Department, approximately 6.37 lakh new private cars and two-wheelers were registered between April 2023 and March 2024, compared to 4.37 lakh during the same period the previous year (April 2022 to March 2023).

While the registration of new two-wheelers saw a 19% rise during this period, the number of newly registered private cars increased substantially. In 2022-23, around 36,000 private cars were registered, a figure that grew to nearly 1.6 lakh in the financial year 2023-24.

This paradigm shift puts a question mark on the existing transport infrastructure and necessitates an efficient system that can bridge the increasing gap between growing urbanisation and the ability of current transportation networks to cater to rising demands for connectivity.

Significance of Commuter Rail Service in Bengaluru

Despite the availability of various modes of transport such as buses and the metro system, the city continues to suffer from congested roads, severe traffic, and overcrowded metro services, particularly during peak hours. The commencement of the 149.348 km Suburban Rail Network will support the existing transport modes to accommodate the growing number of commuters in the city.

This article will navigate through the critical aspects of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail project while examining its potential to accelerate the city’s growth.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) Overview

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) is a 149.348 km commuter rail network. The project is currently under construction in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It will include 64 stations across 4 corridors.

Key Features Of The Project As Per DPR’s Recommendation

Parameter	Details
Coaches	Broad gauge, Air-conditioned,
Track Gauge	3660 mm (Broad Gauge)
Traction System	25KV AC, 50 Hz single-phase traction system
Signaling System	CBCTC signalling proposed for high-frequency operations
Initial Operations	6-car rake with a headway of 12 to 20 minutes
Service Hours	5:00 AM to midnight
Design Speed	90 km/h
Maintenance and Stabling Facilities	Devanahalli (Corridor-1), Jnanabharathi (Corridor-3)

Project Development

The feasibility report and the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) were prepared by RITES, which concerned the design and alignment of the network.

 Approval

India’s Central Government approved the project in October 2020 with an estimated cost of ₹15,767 crore. The foundation stone for the project was laid on June 20, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project is being executed by Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE).

Deadline

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project was originally targeted for completion by 2026. However, several factors contributed to the delay in the project which may extend the completion deadline to 2027. 

Update: Since Corridor-2 is in the most advanced stage, Section 4 of Corridor-2, which extends from Chikkabanavara to Yeshwantpur at a length of 7.4 km is expected to be the first section to be completed and commissioned by December 2025.

Expected Ridership

As per the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the estimated daily ridership on the study corridors is projected to be 9.84 lakh passenger trips in 2025, 13.41 lakh passenger trips in 2031, and 17.60 lakh passenger trips in 2041.

Depots

The land for establishing the depot is located at, Jnanabharathi & Devanahalli. The State Government proposed to mobilize approximately 61.27 acres of land at Devanahalli and 56.97 acres of land at Jnanabharathi for this purpose.

Land Requirement For The Project

As per the DPR by RITES,  the project requires the acquisition of approximately 101.687 acres of private land. Additionally, around 326.9 acres of railway land will be used for its implementation.

Funding Mechanism

The Central Government will contribute up to 20% of the project cost, excluding land, Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R), and central and state taxes, as its equity contribution. The State Government will contribute an equal amount, bringing the total equity contribution to 40%.

Particulars	Amount ₹( In Crore)	% Share
Equity by Govt. of India	2479	20.0%
Equity by Govt. of Karnataka	2479	20.0%
Soft Loans from bilateral/multilateral funding agencies	7438	60.0%
Total Cost	12396	100.00%
Sub-Ordinate Debt for Central GST & Basic Customs Duty by GOI	763	–
Sub-Ordinate Debt for land and R&R by Govt. of Karnataka	1470	–
Sub-Ordinate Debt for State GST by Govt. of Karnataka	785	–
Sub-Ordinate Debt for IDC for JICA ODA Loan @1.4% by Govt. of Karnataka	353	–
Total Cost	15767	–

€500 Million Loan from KfW

On 15 December 2023, KfW Development Bank (Germany) and Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) signed a loan agreement worth €500 million (approximately ₹4,552 crore) along with a grant of €4.5 million (around ₹41 crore) for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP).

• The loan will support the development of the following Lines:

• Corridor-1: KSR Bengaluru- Devanahalli
• Corridor-3: Kengeri – Whitefield

€300 Million Loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB)

• On 14 June 2024, the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Economic Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a €300 million loan to support the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP).

• According to K-RIDE, the agreement will enable the initiation of tenders for Corridor-1, Depot-2, and track and traction works.

Update: Railway Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka), K-RIDE has successfully secured foreign funding of about Rs 7,438 crore (approximately €800 million) for BSRP.Funding Received (as of May 31, 2024):₹500 crore from the Ministry of Railways.₹665.42 crore from the State Government.Total Expenditure Incurred:₹1,031.03 crore.

The Corridors in the BSRP

The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project will cover a total length of 149.348 km through 4 corridors. Each corridor is named after commonly found local flowers in Bengaluru and its surrounding areas. The corridors are:

• Sampige Corridor: Named after the Champa flower.
• Mallige Corridor: Named after the Chameli flower.
• Parijata Corridor: Named after the Prajakta flower.
• Kanaka Corridor: Named after the Priyardarsha flower or Kanak Champa flower.

Project Status:

• Under Construction: 54.9 km
• Approved: 94.4 km

Route Type:

• Elevated Routes: 45.392 km
• At-Grade Routes: 103.856 km

Corridor 1: Sampige Line

• Route: KSR Bengaluru City – Devanahalli via Yelahanka
• Length: 41.478 km
• Type: Elevated (19.22 km) & At-Grade (22.278 km)
• Depot: Akkupet Depot
• Number of Stations: 15 (8 elevated & 7 at-grade)
• Station Names: KSR Bengaluru City (interchange), Srirampura, Malleswaram, Yesvantpur (interchange), Muthyal Nagar, Lottegollahalli (interchange), Kodigehalli, Judicial Layout, Yelahanka, Nitte Meenakshi, Bettahalasoor, Doddajala, Airport Trumpet, Airport Terminal, Airport KIADB, Devanahalli

Update: On June 26 2024, a revised alignment plan was submitted to South Western Railway (SBC Division), and approval is currently awaited. Line 1 has been divided into two packages: Package 1A, which covers the section from Majestic to Yelahanka (17.63 km), and Package 1B, which covers the section from Yelahanka to Devanahalli (23 km).

Corridor 2: Mallige Line

• Route: Baiyyappanahalli – Chikkabanavara via Hebbal
• Length: 24.866 km
• Type: Elevated (7.723 km) & At-Grade (17.143 km)
• Depot: Jalahalli Depot
• Number of Stations: 14 (6 elevated & 8 at-grade)
• Station Names: Chikka Banavara, Myadarahalli, Shettyhalli, Jalahalli, Yesvantpur (interchange), Lottegollahalli (interchange), Hebbal, Kanaka Nagar, Nagawara, Kaveri Nagar, Banaswadi, Seva Nagar, Kasturi Nagar, Baiyapanahalli (interchange)

Mallige Line Progress Update (Current Status)

Physical Progress:	28% completed.
Financial Expenditure	22% achieved.
Utility Shifting:	Signal and Telecommunication (S&T) utilities are fully shifted, and 75% of electrical utility relocation is complete

Corridor 3: Parijata Line

• Route:  Kengeri – Whitefield via Bengaluru Cantonment & K R Puram
• Length: 35.52 km
• Type: Elevated (10.40 km) & At-Grade (25.12 km)
• Number of Stations: 14 (4 elevated & 10 at-grade)
• Station Names: Kengeri, RV College, Jnanabharati, Nayandahalli, Krishnadevaraya, Jagjeevanram Nagar, KSR Bengaluru City (interchange), Kumara Park, Bengaluru Cantt, Bengaluru East, Baiyapannahalli, Krishnarajapura, Hoodi, Whitefield

Corridor 4: Kanaka Line

• Route: Heelalige – Rajankunte via Channasandra & Yelahanka
• Length: 46.285 km
• Type: Elevated (8.96 km) & At-Grade (37.92 km)
• Depot: Silkboard Depot
• Number of Stations: 19 (4 elevated & 15 at-grade)
• Station Names: Rajankunte, Muddana Halli, Yelahanka (interchange), Jakkur, Hegde Nagar, Thanisandra, Hennur, Horamavu, Channasandra, Benniganahalli (interchange), Kagadaspura, Doddanekundi, Marathahalli, Belandur Road, Carmelaram, Ambedkar Nagar, Huskur, Singena Agrahara, Bommasandra, Heelalige

Kanaka Line Progress Update (Current Status)

S&T Utility Shifting:	62% completed.
Ongoing Works:	Electrical connections, drainage, and minor bridge construction.
Bridges Completed:	Five minor bridges have been constructed, with 15 more under progress.

BSRP Will Feature The Following Interchange Stations

Interchange Stations	Corridors
Bengaluru City	Corridor-1 & Corridor-3
Yesvantapur	Corridor-1 & Corridor-2
Lottegollahalli	Corridor-1 & Corridor-2
Yelahanka	Corridor-1 & Corridor-4
Benniganahalli	Corridor-2 & Corridor-4

Recent Updates On the BSRP: 

Land AllocationOn April 2, 2024, South Western Railway (SWR) signed agreements with Railway Infrastructure Development Company Limited (K-RIDE) to allocate land for the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project. SWR handed over 115.472 acres of land for Corridor-4 under a long-term lease. For Corridor 2, the allocated land was reduced from 157.07 acres to 85.707 acres.  Route AlignmentThe Centre and the Karnataka government are discussing the possibility of excluding Corridor-3 (Whitefield-Kengeri) from the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP). On 26 November 2024, Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna, stated that the current focus is on implementing Corridors 2 and 4.

Major Contractors Involved in BSRP

Corridor	Work	Amount & Package	Firm
Corridor 2	Design and construction of an elevated viaduct of length 8.027 km from Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara excluding station buildings	Rs. 849.97 crore	Larsen & Toubro
Corridor 4	The contract includes the construction of an elevated viaduct spanning 8.960 km and an at-grade formation covering 37.920 km along the Heelalige–Rajanukunte section.	Rs. 1040.51 crore	Larsen & Toubro
Corridor 4	The contract involves the construction of 9 stations (1 elevated and 8 at-grade) at Heelalige, Singena Agrahara, Huskur, Ambedkar Nagar, Carmelaram, Bellandur, Marathahalli, Doddanakundi, Kaggadasapura	Rs. 613 crore (Package C4A)	RVNL – Rithwik JV(Lowest Bidder)

The Major Roadblocks-Slowing The BSRP

No Bidder Participation for Rolling Stock Contract

Initially, 306 rail coaches were planned for the BSRP. K-RIDE had invited tenders for the procurement of rolling stocks in two stages: Request For Qualification (RFQ) and Request For Proposal (RFP). In the first stage, RFQ, three bidders were qualified: BHEL, BEML, and CAF/Spain. K-RIDE initiated the second stage, RFP, on December 29, 2023. However, Despite extending the deadline to August 22, 2024, no bids were received during the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.

Currently, a proposal is under review to procure rolling stock through an equity model, with a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement between the Government of Karnataka (GoK) and the Ministry of Railways (MoR).

Encroachment Issues 

According to N Manjula, Managing Director of K-RIDE, there are 62 encroachments identified along the Baiyyappanahalli – Chikkabanavara Corridor (Mallige Line). The encroachments primarily involve private buildings and other unauthorised structures on the railway land. These encroachments need to be cleared before the construction begins. However, the clearance process is complex and cumbersome as it involves the issuance of notices and proper documentation. This bureaucratic process can delay construction activities substantially.

Utility Shifts

Corridor-2 is facing challenges in shifting utilities, particularly water and sewer lines that are managed by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), as well as the relocation of high-tension overhead power lines. BWSSB needs to relocate 15 water lines and 17 sewer lines from the project site

Benefits Associated with the BSRP 

Multi-Modal Integration: The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project will integrate with a number of transport systems like metro, BMTC buses, railway stations, and bus terminals. The BSRP stations will have car bays, bus bays, and electric vehicle charging facilities.

Hebbal station will integrate with the new multi-modal transport hub connecting metro, bus depots, and suburban rail. Other stations such as Bengaluru City, Yeshwantpur, and Benniganahalli will also have an integration of metro services with railway stations and bus depots.

Traffic Decongestion: Once completed, the Bengaluru Suburban Rail will be capable of carrying up to 10 lakh (one million) passengers on a daily basis. This will reduce the strain on other transport modes.

Cost-Effective Travel: The BSRP is designed to offer affordable ticket prices compared to existing metro services.

Economic Growth: The approximately 149 km routes of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project have been strategically planned to pass through densely populated areas. This will change locations nearer to stations into integrated commercial hubs. This will boost the local economies as people will be employed and trade will increase in the surrounding areas.

Environmental Benefits: By promoting rail travel over road transport, the BSRP is expected to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable urban environment

Conclusion 

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) is a joint initiative undertaken by the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways. K-RIDE (Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company Limited), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) is executing the project. The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) is the first railway initiative in India to be implemented under the National Suburban Rail Policy of 2018. With 4 Corridors the project will cover a total length of about 149 km streamlining connectivity across Bengaluru and its suburbs. The BSRP will alleviate traffic congestion in Bengaluru by reducing the number of road users by approximately 10 lakh. Despite its transformative potential the project faces critical challenges that could impact its timely and effective implementation. From land acquisition and escalating costs to coordination between multiple agencies. Environmental concerns, utility shifting, and delays in approvals further complicate the process. If these issues are tackled effectively, BSRP has the potential to not only ease the city’s transport woes but also set a benchmark for suburban rail networks across the country.