Bengaluru CM Demands Answers from Centre Over Suburban Rail Project Delays
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called on the Union government to provide explanations for the significant delays plaguing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). He highlighted that in 2022, ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "boasted" that the project would be completed within 40 months, yet the deadline has now been extended to 2030.
Commuters Bear the Brunt of Infrastructure Delays
"This is not just about a delayed project. It is about the daily struggle of commuters and rising transport stress in a city that keeps contributing to India's growth while being denied timely infrastructure support," Siddaramaiah stated. He questioned the Union government, asking, "If Bengaluru's suburban rail was promised as a priority before the election, why has the city been left to suffer delay after delay?"
The BSRP, a 148-km network, received approval in October 2020 through K-RIDE, a joint venture of the Centre and state, with an initial deadline of 2026. However, to date, not a single stretch has been commissioned. During the foundation stone laying in June 2022, Modi assured completion within 40 months.
Contract Issues and Blame Game Escalate Delays
In August 2022, K-RIDE awarded a contract to Larsen & Toubro for Corridor-2 (Baiyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara), but the project faced setbacks, culminating in L&T terminating the contract last year. The company also exited Corridor-4 (Heelalige-Rajankunte), for which it secured a contract in December 2023.
The state government has criticized the Centre for delays in railway land transfer and design approvals. In response, the Centre argued that K-RIDE lacks the technical expertise to execute such a complex project and should be led by a technocrat. Recently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attributed the slow progress to delays in land acquisition by the state government.
Revival Efforts and Tender Updates for Stalled Corridors
In a bid to revive the stalled Baiyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara corridor, K-RIDE floated fresh tenders for three packages in October last year. Contracts for two packages have been awarded:
- The Yeshwanthpur-Chikkabanavara package to PJB Engineers Private Limited for Rs 106 crore.
- The Baiyappanahalli-Hebbal package to a consortium of PJB Engineers and CVCC for Rs 263 crore.
A K-RIDE official noted that for the Hebbal-Yeshwanthpur package, which involves an elevated corridor, only a single bid was received with a high quoted cost, prompting a re-tender. For Corridor-4, fresh tenders will be floated in the next three to four months. Tenders for the remaining corridors—Majestic-Devanahalli and Kengeri-Whitefield—are yet to be issued.
Political Sparring Intensifies Over Project Responsibility
Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan responded to the CM's criticism by blaming the state government for the delays. He argued that execution rests primarily with the state, citing "state-level bottlenecks" as the cause, not a lack of Union support. Mohan emphasized that the state holds a 51% stake in K-RIDE and pointed to delays in land transfer and acquisition as key factors slowing progress. "Land acquisition and on-ground readiness have lagged due to state delays," he added in a social media post.
Siddaramaiah also questioned the Centre's decision to exclude Mysuru from the announced Chennai-Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor and its failure to fulfill promises on the Kolar Rail Coach Factory, despite the state government providing the required land.
