Urgent Push for Bengaluru's Delayed Suburban Rail Initiation

Citizens group C4C urges intervention from PM Modi and CM Siddaramaiah to expedite the delayed Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project. Originally slated for 2025 completion, the project now eyes a 2030 deadline while facing commencement delays on critical corridors intended to bolster city connectivity.

A citizens' organization, Citizens for Citizens (C4C), has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to urgently address significant delays in the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), specifically the critical Majestic-Kempegowda International Airport corridor.

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, initially commissioned in 2020 with a cost estimate of Rs 15,767 crore, was expected to enhance connections between Bengaluru's center and its suburbs by December 2025. However, the project now faces delays, with a new completion date set for March 2030 by Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) (K-RIDE), a Ministry of Railways and Karnataka Government joint venture.

C4C founder Rajkumar Dugar highlighted the stagnation, emphasizing that no on-ground progress has been made, although it is integral to the city's transport framework. He urged for budgetary commitments and rapid land acquisition to meet a revised target of January 2028 as feasible, pending decisive action from leadership in the upcoming state budget.

(With inputs from agencies.)