Bengaluru Suburban Railway Phase 2 to cover 146 km, aligns with proposed circular rail network

An official explained the rationale behind the proposal, stating that the Circular Rail Network planned for Bengaluru division, combined with ongoing quadrupling and doubling projects by Indian Railways, eliminates the need for suburban rail connectivity in many areas initially proposed under the 452 km plan. The revised plan focuses on covering gaps where there is currently no rail connectivity.

The second phase of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) is expected to be limited to 146 km, as plans for a Circular Rail Network for the city are also in progress.

Officials from the Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises Karnataka (K-RIDE), the nodal agency for the project, have outlined proposed extensions covering 146 km. These include stretches from Devanahalli to Chikkaballapur (18 km), Chikkabanavara to Kunigal (50 km), Chikkabanavara to Dobbaspet (36 km), Kengeri to Hejjala (11 km), Heelalige to Anekal Road (11 km), and Rajanukunte to Oderahalli (20 km).

The decision to limit the suburban rail expansion was made during a meeting in late 2024 involving Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, Infrastructure Minister M.B. Patil, and senior officials from Railways and K-RIDE. Subsequently, K-RIDE sought approval from the Union Ministry of Railways to conduct a feasibility study for integrating the suburban rail expansion with the proposed Circular Rail Network.

Initially, K-RIDE had proposed a more extensive 452 km suburban rail network to connect Bengaluru with nearby towns, including Devanahalli, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Kolar, Mysuru, and Hosur. However, this ambitious plan was rejected in 2024 by the South Western Railway (SWR).

An official explained the rationale behind the proposal, stating that the Circular Rail Network planned for Bengaluru division, combined with ongoing quadrupling and doubling projects by Indian Railways, eliminates the need for suburban rail connectivity in many areas initially proposed under the 452 km plan. The revised plan focuses on covering gaps where there is currently no rail connectivity.

K. N. Krishna Prasad, a railway activist, called it a good step forward for Bengaluru’s transport network. “Let them finish phase one and then work on the second phase. However, this is a good initiative to integrate the suburban rail with the circular railway, which will benefit residents of the city’s satellite towns. It will also contribute to alleviating the growing congestion in Bengaluru,” he added.