Sector: Railways
Length: 148 km
Investment: Rs 186 billion (Rs 28.54 billion earmarked for procuring coaches on a PPP basis)
Ownership: Government (central and state)
Implementing agency: K-RIDE (Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited)
Mode of implementation: EPC (procurement of coaches to be undertaken on a PPP basis)
Expected completion: 2026
In a big relief to the congested city of Bengaluru, the project to develop a 148 km long suburban rail network is finally getting back on track. In June 2020, the Ministry of Finance cleared the long-pending Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project. The project is now awaiting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Meanwhile, K-RIDE, has already commenced the preliminary work of land survey. The cost of the project has been revised to Rs 157.67 billion by shifting the procurement of coaches to the PPP model. The state and central governments will share 40 per cent of the total cost (20 per cent each) and the remaining funding will come from institutional loans. The suburban rail network will have four corridors and it will boast several modern features including an automated fare collection system, an LED-based coach identification system and a passenger information display system. W