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Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project Advances, South Western Railway Leases Land For Corridor-4
The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) made significant headway on Tuesday when South Western Railway leased it 114.472 acres of land for Corridor-4 from Heelalige to Rajanukunte in the city.
Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (Representational Image)
Photo : Times Now
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) took a significant stride forward as the South Western Railway allocated 114.472 acres of land for Corridor-4, stretching from Heelalige to Rajanukunte within the city, on Tuesday.
Reportedly, the Railways handed over this land to the Rail Infrastructure Development Company-Karnataka Limited (K-RIDE) for the execution of Corridor-4, also known as the 'Kanaka Line'.
K-RIDE, the implementing agency, is tasked with ensuring the project's progress.
Furthermore, a source revealed that a lease agreement was signed for revised railway land, reducing the area from 157.07 acres to 85.707 acres for Corridor-2, dubbed the Mallige Line, as quoted by news agency PTI. This transfer of land is expected to expedite the project, which has been progressing sluggishly.
In a significant development on February 9, the Karnataka government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the KfW Development Bank of Germany for financing the BSRP. The bank has agreed to extend a loan of Rs 4,561 crore at an annual interest rate of four per cent over a 20-year period.
K-RIDE officials outlined that the loan will be utilised for various critical components of the project, including Corridor-3 station and viaduct, Corridor-4 station infrastructure, Depot-1 solar panel installation, and procurement of security equipment. This infusion of funds is aimed at addressing essential infrastructure requirements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while laying the foundation stone of the BSRP in Bengaluru back in June 2022, expressed optimism, stating that what had not been achieved in the past 40 years would be accomplished within the next 40 months.
Now, Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil has set a new target, aiming for the project's completion by December 2027.
Officials from K-Ride highlight that the extension of the railway network would greatly benefit daily commuters residing in suburban areas and neighbouring districts. For example, Corridor-3 from Whitefield could be extended to Malur, while Corridor-2, currently under construction between Byappanahalli and Chikkabanavara, could connect Nidavanda and Marikuppe. Similarly, Corridor-4 from Heelalige to Rajanukunte could be linked with Doddaballapur.
A Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) official underscores the importance of this extension, stating that it aligns with the operational rail tracks in six directions within Bengaluru. Extending the suburban rail to satellite towns is seen as a strategic move to accommodate future commuters efficiently.
Moreover, K-Ride contends that the suburban rail expansion presents a more cost-effective solution compared to the proposed expansion of the Namma Metro to nearby cities, as per a Times of India report.
However, last year, the railways declined K-Ride's request to conduct a feasibility study for extending BSRP to cities such as Mysuru, Tumakuru, and Chikkaballapur.
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Nikita Jha author
Nikita is a journalist at Times Now, specialising in city desk coverage. A graduate of Delhi University, she balances her professional life with creat...View More
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