,
In the puzzle to solve the traffic nightmare of Bengaluru, the long -standing Bengaluru suburban railway project (BSRP) was billed as the third column of public transport after the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Namma Metro.
The project was approved after decades of discussion in October 2020 and designed to carry about 2 million passengers every day on Bengaluru and its outskirts. It envisaged modern nine-cook air-conditioned trains running on high frequencies of five to 12 minutes, covering 148 km and 58 stations in four corridors.
The approved cost of ₹ 15,767 crore was seen not only in dynamics, but also in economic efficiency and environmental stability. The corridors were running between the forest, mag that the Majestic and Kemp Gowda International Airport, and was originally to be completed by October 2026 by October 2026, which was ahead of the time limit of the entire project of October 2026.
3 years, a little progress
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept the Foundation Stone in June 2022, he assured the citizens that the 148 km network would be distributed within 40 months, ending the 40 -year wait. The announcement created a wave of optimism in Bengaluru, where the traffic crowd has long been a daily pain. Nevertheless, after more than three years of approval, reality is different. Progress on the ground has been very slow.
The project suffered another major setback in August 2025, when the contractor for L&T, Corridor Two to Benigenhalli to Benigenhalli and Corridor Four from High to Rajnta, unilateral, unilaterally ended his contracts. The move surprised many people and strongly criticized the Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (C-Ride), the Implementation Agency. C-Ride stated that the contracts were valid till September and October 2026 respectively and did not allow unilateral return.
The project suffered another major setback in August 2025, when the contractor for L&T, Corridor Two to Benigenhalli to Benigenhalli and Corridor Four from High to Rajnta, unilateral, unilaterally ended his contracts. Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain
C-Ride accused L&T of violating the terms of the agreement and stated that the company had made improper demands, such as an item (beoQ) structure for an item from the Middle-Project Price Amendment and Agreed Engineering, Purchase and Construction (EPC) model. According to C-Ride, permission was not given under the signed agreement.
Officials said that most of the land was already handed over. He claimed that 84% of the land required for the corridor four with two and 17 km was made available for L&T, yet the execution is far behind the schedule. The agency alleged that the company failed to raise adequate resources, often replaced project managers, and delayed design approval.
Not in tragedy design, but in execution
The latest shock is depressed for civic workers who have made the cause of suburban rail for years the champion. Rajkumar Dugar, founder of the founder of citizens (C4C) for citizens, argues that in many cases the BSRP is even better than the metro, with high average speed, better seating arrangements, luggage place, and integrated modern stations with other transport mode. According to him, the tragedy is not in design, but in execution.
The latest shock is depressed for civic workers who have made the cause of suburban rail for years the champion. , Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain
Talk to Hindu“After 80% of the approval period, only 10% of the actual work is completed on the ground. This is unacceptable,” Mr. Dugar said.
He further said that the lack of political urgency is shining. He said, “Despite being four MPs from Bangalore, and a Minister of State for Railways representing Tumkuru has been pushed very little from elected representatives. Many of them do not even know about BSRP details,” he said.
The project is also surrounded by institutional tuss and bureaucracy obstacles. Unlike Namma Metro, which falls under the Minister of Bangalore Development, the suburban rail project falls under the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD). The land acquisition is handled by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), which falls under IDD. This dual structure has spread accountability and slow progress. According to Mr. Dugar, the lack of stable leadership in the C-Ride has made cases more complicated.
He said, “The post of Managing Director has become a tug-off-pass between the state government and the Ministry of Railways. While the latter has constantly argued that the MD should be a railway officer, the state has repeatedly put the IAS officers in charge,” he said.
Ercely saga
The project, which has been on the drawing board for more than six decades, is trapped in the delay. According to Railway activist Sanjeev Diaminavar, the idea was first looted through CTTP study by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) in 1963-64, and since then, several studies by BMTC-Conntrans, and other committees have strongly recommended a Commuter Rail Network to reduce the growing traffic of Bengaluru.
“The suburban railway project has been demanding for a long time, but the gradual governments have failed to bring it. In early 1998, surveys were conducted to find out the viability of running local trains in Bengaluru, yet it was expected to be proposed for more than two decades. It is necessary that all the officials related to all the officials have made one -tenting work to ensure that the sub -region should be a reality soon,” Told Hindu,
For Bengaluru, a city that has grown rapidly and faces daily gridlock, a suburban rail may be a lifeline decades ago, said, “Instead, the project stands as a case study of bureaucracy red tape, political inducement, and administrative obstacles, which is more than generations.
Herdles abundant
In June 2025, C-Ride appeared to break the deadlock by an advertisement for a railway officer to fill the MD post on deputation. But on August 4, 2025, in a stunning step, the state government appointed IAS officer Govinda Reddy in a position in a position. Even after the interview for railway officials, this appointment also came. Mr. Dugar argued that such uncertainty under the leadership has demolished employees within the C-Ride and obstructed the decisive action. According to him, the most important requirement is to install a full -time, competent MD that can carry forward the project without delay in bureaucracy.
For Bengaluru, a city that has grown rapidly and faces daily gridlock, the suburban rail could have been a lifeline decades ago. , Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain
The C-Ride, for its part, insists that despite the failures, the preparation work is moving forward. A C-Ride official said, “Many station construction tenders and track letting contracts were provided in early 2025 and ground works have started.”
Meanwhile, South Western Railway officials emphasized that the delay in land acquisition is largely the responsibility of Kiadb and not the Railways. “Most railway land requirement is encroachment-free, and efforts are underway to clean the remaining parcels. Railway KSR is working closely with the ke-ride to integrate suburban rails in the ongoing redevelopment of Bangalore station, with provisions for dedicated platforms, better passenger movement, and multiculture connectivity, and with provisions for multiculture, and multiculture surroundings” Hindu,
He said that there is no delay for the Railways in the case of land handover or approval. “C-Ride and SWR are coordinating well and various issues are being dealt with immediately. All necessary approval, leasing of railway land and approval of obstacles, etc. are being rapid by SWR,” said Mr. Mathur.
Where the project is standing today
Accepted by official figures Hindu Show that by August 25, 2025, the overall project progress was only 18.5 %, which cost ₹ 1,992.9 crore. The land acquisition area was almost completed by 97.75% and linear length at 86%, yet physical progress was left behind.
But citizens say that what has been the most disappointing is the silence of political representatives. The suburban railway project is repeatedly considered important to the economy, environment, and quality of life of Bengaluru, yet MPs and MLAs have shown very little inclination to push for accountability, Sri Dugar says, while indicating that none of the leaders have responded to the fact that the corridor has not accepted any priority.
Comparison with Namma Metro is unavoidable. Despite its delay, the metro has consistently expanded throughout the city, supported by political visibility. In contrast, BSRP has been neglected in terms of political attention. Experts suggest that the part of the problem lies in its governance structure, divided between state and central agencies, which allow both sides to pass deer.
Transport expert MN Srihari said, “The further route lies in immediate corrective action. A full-time, competent MD for C-Ride should be appointed as soon as possible, and should be resolved to pull the disputes with contractors. Are unavoidable, and Bengaluru is an environmentally friendly, skilled and losing risks at the inclusive mode of transportation.”
Hindu The development of large and medium industries and infrastructure was sent detailed questions to MB Patil Minister about the project, but he did not get any response.
For now, as Mr. Dugar said, trains that could take millions of passengers every day, remain a dream, waiting for a success.
