Bengaluru Suburban Rail: Karnataka’s Top Official Calls For Swift Action On Mallige Line’s Overdue Progress

Karnataka's Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh recently conducted an on-site inspection of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), on the Corridor 2, also known as the Mallige Line.

The inspection took place at the Kanakanagar railway gate in eastern Bengaluru, specifically at level crossings 144A and 140.

The Mallige Line, which stretches from Kanakanagar to Hebbal, will eliminate six level crossings by constructing an elevated section. This innovative approach was adopted to address the challenges posed by the densely populated area, where constructing road overbridges (RoBs) is not feasible.

The project is being implemented by the Railway Infrastructure Development Company Karnataka (K-RIDE).

According to the Chief Secretary, this development represents a significant infrastructure milestone for high-traffic urban areas, where traditional solutions like RoBs are often impractical due to space constraints. "The entire section is a poster example of this project," she said, highlighting its strategic importance for urban mobility.

The construction work at the level crossings will proceed in phases. Initially, construction will begin on the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) side. Once this section is complete, Indian Railways (IR) trains will be temporarily diverted to the newly constructed tracks.

Subsequently, the existing railway tracks will be elevated and restructured without disrupting services. Upon completion, the BSRP and Indian Railways will operate on their dedicated tracks.

Expressing her dissatisfaction with the prolonged delays Rajneesh instructed officials and contractors to expedite construction. Officials attribute the setbacks to several factors, particularly encroachment on railway land, delay in land acquisition, and complications in shifting utility services of various agencies, as per The Hindu report.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP)

The commuter rail network will comprise four corridors, 57 stations, and cover 148.17 km.

Sampige (Corridor 1): KSR Bengaluru-Devanahalli (41 km) connecting Kempegowda International Airport

Mallige (Corridor 2): Baiyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara (25.14 km)

Parijatha (Corridor 3): Kengeri to Whitefield (35.52 km)

Kanaka (Corridor 4): Heelalige-Rajankunte (46.24 km)

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project will link Bengaluru to its satellite townships, suburbs, and surrounding rural areas through a rail-based rapid-transit system network.

On 20 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the suburban rail project in the city. 

While Corridors 2 and 4 (Mallige and Kanaka lines) are scheduled for completion by December 2025, the remaining two corridors (Sampige and Parijatha lines) are expected to take longer. K-RIDE has yet to award contracts for groundwork on these two corridors.

Once completed, the BSRP is expected to carry 9.84 lakh passengers daily, significantly easing Bengaluru’s traffic congestion and improving connectivity to its suburbs and satellite townships.