From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 24: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa inspected the progress of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) and railway doubling project by travelling between Bengaluru Cantonment and Heelalige on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, he said with the suburban railway project, commuting to suburban areas of the city would be easier including to International Airport.
It will also contribute to reducing traffic congestion in the city and the railway doubling project will help in the operation of more trains from Bengaluru, he said.
Bengaluru suburban railway project is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 15,767 crore.
The project cost will be shared on a 20:20:60 basis (Government of Karnataka: Ministry of Railways: External Funding).
Government of Karnataka has already released Rs 400 crore towards its contribution for this project during 2020, 2021, he explained.
The project is being executed by K-RIDE, the joint venture of the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways.
BSRP comprises 4 corridors with a route length of 148 km. They are:
a) KSR Bangalore City – Devanahalli (including Bangalore International Airport) (41.40 Km)
b) Baiyyapanahalli – Chikkabanavara (25 Km)
c) Kengeri – Whitefield (35.52 Km)
d) Heelalige (Chandapura)– Rajankunte (46.24 Km)
Among the four corridors, work of corridor – 2 (Baiyyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara) and corridor – 4 (Heelalige (Chandapura)-Rajankunte) will be taken up initially.
Doubling projects
The single line between the Yeshwantpur-Channasandra section and Baiyyappanahalli–Hosur was a major constraint for operating more trains from Bangalore to its outskirts. Therefore, these two doubling Projects were sanctioned in 2018-19 with 50-50 cost-sharing between the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways.
K-RIDE is executing these doubling projects.
The 48 km long Baiyappanahalli-Hosur railway doubling project is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 499 crore. The state government will bear Rs 250 crore.
During 2020-21, the state government has released Rs 65 crore for this project.
The doubling project began in October 2020 and is expected to complete by December 2023.
The tender process is in progress and at present earthwork, an extension of major bridges and minor bridges is in progress.
The 22 km long Yeshwanthpur–Channasandra railway doubling project is taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 315 crore. The state government will bear Rs 157 crore. During 2020-21, Rs 35 crore is released.
The work on the project has commenced in October 2020 and it is planned to be completed by December 2023.
All major tenders pertaining to the project like civil works, S&T works have been awarded. At present earthwork is in progress.
On completion of these two doubling projects, additional train services can be operated from Yeshwantpur/Bengaluru city Railway stations.
The Government of India has also given thrust to these projects. The chief minister directed the officials to complete the works in a time-bound manner.
Revenue minister R Ashok, additional chief secretary to the infrastructure development department, Kapil Mohan and others were present.