Only one of four Bengaluru suburban rail corridors clears land hurdle
More than four years after the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) received approval, only one of its four corridors has completed land acquisition, while another
More than four years after the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) received approval, only one of its four corridors has completed land acquisition, while another has acquired just 7.8 acres of the required 57 acres, according to a reply by the Union government in the Lok Sabha. The ₹15,767-crore project has incurred an expenditure of ₹2,659 crore so far, with delays attributed mainly to pending land acquisition and transfer of State government land. Replying to an unstarred question recently by Chickballapur MP K. Sudhakar in the Lok Sabha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the 148.17-km BSRP is being implemented by Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), a company in which the Karnataka government holds a 51% stake. The project is funded with 20% each by the Centre and the State government, while the remaining 60% is to be raised through debt.
Among the four corridors, Corridor-2 (Mallige), connecting Baiyyappanahalli and Chikkabanavara over 25.01 km, has made the most progress. The government said land acquisition has been completed in full, separate contracts have been awarded for station buildings, and construction is under way. Tenders have also been invited for the remaining works. Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) Total project length: 148.17 km Project cost: ₹15,767 crore Expenditure incurred: ₹2,659 crore Executing agency: K-RIDE (51% owned by Karnataka Govt.) Funding pattern: 20% Centre, 20% Karnataka Govt., 60% debt Status of the Four Corridors Corridor Route Current Status Corridor-1 (Sampige) KSR Bengaluru City – Devanahalli (41.4 km) Alignment approved; land acquisition and utility shifting under way Corridor-2 (Mallige) Baiyyappanahalli – Chikkabanavara (25.01 km) Land acquisition completed; station works in progress; tenders invited for remaining works Corridor-3 (Parijaata) Kengeri – Whitefield (35.52 km) Alignment approved; land acquisition and utility shifting under way Corridor-4 (Kanaka) Heelalige – Rajankunte (46.25 km) Only 7.8 acres acquired out of 57 acres required; station works started on available land Status For Corridor-1 (Sampige) between KSR Bengaluru city and Devanahalli (41.4 km), alignment plans have been approved, while land acquisition is under way.
Shifting of signalling, telecommunication (S&T) and electrical utilities has also commenced. A similar status was reported for Corridor-3 (Parijaata), the 35.52-km line connecting Kengeri and Whitefield. The alignment has been approved, while land acquisition and utility shifting are currently in progress. Progress has been slowest on Corridor-4 (Kanaka), which will connect Heelalige and Rajankunte over 46.25 km. Of the 57 acres required for the corridor, only 7.8 acres have been acquired so far. However, contracts for station buildings have been awarded, and construction has begun on the land already available. Non-acquisition of private land The Union government said that the project has been delayed due to the non-acquisition of private land and the transfer of State government land by the Government of Karnataka. It added that regular coordination meetings are being held between K-RIDE and the Railways to resolve pending issues and expedite implementation.
The BriefWire