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...
South Western Railway has approved the quadrupling of the Whitefield Bangarpet rail corridor in Karnataka with an estimated cost of INR 1,481 crore. The 42-km stretch is a key route linking Bengaluru with Chennai and currently faces heavy congestion. The project will add two additional tracks, improving capacity for both passenger and freight movement. With special project status granted, faster land acquisition and approvals are expected. The upgrade is likely to reduce delays, improve punctuality, and benefit daily commuters from nearby towns.
South Western Railway has notified the quadrupling of the 42-km rail stretch between Whitefield and Bangarpet, a key corridor that connects Bengaluru to Chennai. The project, estimated at INR 1,481 crore, will involve adding two new tracks alongside the existing double line, increasing the total to four tracks and significantly improving the route's carrying capacity. Advertisement
This stretch is currently one of the busiest in the region, handling a mix of suburban, passenger, express, and freight trains. Due to limited track availability, trains often face delays and unscheduled halts, especially during peak hours. With the addition of separate lines, railway operations are expected to become more streamlined, allowing better segregation of slow and fast-moving trains.
The proposal for this expansion has been under discussion for some time. Surveys for the project began a few years ago, but progress slowed due to delays in finalising the detailed project report and securing approvals. In the past week, the project received a push after being granted special railway project status, which is expected to fast-track land acquisition and environmental clearances. This classification is generally given to projects considered important for capacity enhancement and congestion relief.
The improved infrastructure is expected to directly benefit commuters travelling from towns such as Devangonthi, Malur, and Tekal. These areas have seen growing residential development over the years, leading to higher dependence on rail connectivity for daily travel to Bengaluru. At present, passengers on this route frequently experience delays due to train crossings and congestion on the double line.
Apart from suburban travel, the corridor is an important link for long-distance trains running between Bengaluru and Chennai. With additional tracks, railway officials expect better punctuality of major express and premium trains, as delays caused by crossing movements and track sharing will reduce. The project will also support smoother freight movement, which is essential for industrial areas along the route.
In Karnataka, several railway projects have faced execution challenges in the past, mainly due to land acquisition issues and urban expansion along proposed alignments. For instance, earlier rail link proposals in the same region saw prolonged delays for similar reasons. Keeping this in mind, the special status granted to this project is expected to help avoid such bottlenecks and ensure smoother implementation.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
