Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Bengaluru citizens have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene in accelerating Corridor 1 of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), connecting the city centre to Kempegowda International Airport. Sanctioned in 2020 with an estimated cost of INR 15,767 crore, the project faced repeated delays, with no work started even after over five years. Local groups emphasize the need for timely funding, land acquisition, and execution. They hope direct government support can help commission the corridor by early 2028, benefiting around two crore commuters.
A civic organisation in Bengaluru has requested the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to personally oversee the progress of Corridor 1 of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), citing long delays on the airport stretch. Corridor 1 is considered the most crucial section, designed to link the city centre with Kempegowda International Airport, improving daily commutes for nearly two crore residents in the metropolitan area. Advertisement
The BSRP, commissioned in 2020, was planned to create dedicated suburban rail lines similar to systems in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Corridor 1 was initially prioritised for completion within 36 months, with the State Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) supporting the timeline. The project, with a budget of INR 15,767 crore, was originally expected to be finished by December 2025. However, the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Karnataka government, later extended the deadline to March 2030.
Citizens for Citizens (C4C), a Bengaluru-based group, highlighted that even 63 months after the project's sanction, on-ground work on Corridor 1 has not begun. The group emphasized that the delay not only affects commuter convenience but also undermines the strategic importance of the project in the city's public transport ecosystem. In a letter sent earlier this week, C4C's founder, Rajkumar Dugar, pointed out that the state government, holding a 51 per cent stake in K-RIDE, must ensure timely funding, streamline land acquisition, and oversee execution.
The citizens body also recalled that the project had been reviewed by the Prime Minister on the last day of the past year, with instructions issued to expedite work. They stressed the need for the upcoming government budget to include significant allocations for Corridor 1 and for land acquisition processes to be facilitated to enable rapid commencement of construction. Dugar stated that with direct intervention from the central and state leadership, completing the corridor by January 2028 is achievable.
The project has a long history of delays. When the foundation stone was laid in mid-2022, the Prime Minister had set a target of completing the project in 40 months, aiming for a December 2025 finish. Subsequent delays led Karnataka's Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil to revise the expected completion to December 2027, which also passed without progress. The cumulative effect of these delays has now extended the timeline to over nine years from sanction to projected completion.
Source PTI
FAQ
Q1. What is the current status of Corridor 1 of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP)?
Corridor 1 of the BSRP, connecting Bengaluru city centre to Kempegowda International Airport, has faced repeated delays since its sanction in 2020. Despite being budgeted at INR 15,767 crore and originally expected to finish by December 2025, on-ground work has not started even after more than five years. The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), responsible for the project, has now revised the timeline, with projected completion extended to March 2030.
Q2. Who is urging action on the project, and what are their main concerns?
A civic organisation, Citizens for Citizens (C4C), has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting direct intervention. The group, led by founder Rajkumar Dugar, highlighted delays in funding, land acquisition, and execution as major issues. They stressed that the lack of progress undermines commuter convenience and the project’s strategic importance in Bengaluru’s public transport ecosystem.
Q3. How many commuters are expected to benefit from Corridor 1?
The corridor is designed to serve nearly two crore residents in Bengaluru, significantly easing daily commutes between the city centre and the airport and reducing pressure on existing road networks.
Q4. What actions are being requested from central and state governments?
C4C has urged timely release of project funds, expedited land acquisition, and active oversight by both the central and state leadership. They emphasized that including significant allocations for Corridor 1 in the upcoming government budget is crucial for rapid commencement.
Q5. What is the history of project delays?
The BSRP was sanctioned in 2020 with a planned 36 month completion timeline. The foundation stone was laid in 2022 with an initial December 2025 target. Delays led Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil to revise the expected finish to December 2027. Despite repeated reviews and Prime Ministerial directions, work on Corridor 1 has yet to begin, extending the overall timeline to more than nine years from sanction to projected completion.
Q6. What is the citizens’ group’s proposed achievable timeline with intervention?
C4C believes that with direct support from the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, along with focused funding and streamlined land acquisition, the corridor could be commissioned by January 2028, delivering its intended benefits to Bengaluru commuters much earlier than current projections.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
