The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): The Infrastructure Development Minister, M.B. Patil, announced that the inaugural section of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), extending 7.4 km from Chikkabanavara to Yeshwantpur, is anticipated to be operational by December 2025. This announcement was made during a press conference held after Patil’s inspection of the Gollahalli casting yard near Devanahalli, home to the nation’s first 100-foot (31-meter) U-girder, a novel feature for the BSRP that surpasses the previously utilized 28-meter U-girders in metro railway constructions.
Patil elucidated, “This is the debut of the 31-meter-long U-girder span in India, integrated into the BSRP. This innovative bridge deck design strategy promises to expedite construction timelines, improve aesthetic qualities, enhance durability, and offer cost-effectiveness. The Hebbal to Yeshwantpur stretch, part of the ‘Mallige’ line or Corridor-2, will see the implementation of these girders over an approximate 8 km viaduct, requiring around 450 girders.” Additionally, the Gollahalli L&T yard, responsible for casting these U-girders, will also produce I-girders and pier caps, with 323 and 283 units, respectively, to be utilized along the corridor.
Detailing the BSRP’s progress, the Minister highlighted that 20% of the permanent construction has been completed. Out of the 120.44 acres needed for Corridor-2, spanning from Chikkabanavara to Benniganahalli, 119.18 acres have been secured, marking a 98.5% acquisition rate.
Patil underscored, “Efforts are continuously made to overcome obstacles such as encroachments and to streamline coordination among various stakeholders for utilities shifting and land procurement. Ongoing dialogues with entities like the BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, Bescom, BSNL, and private telecommunication firms are aimed at facilitating these processes.”
He further revealed that the entire BSRP, with a budget of ₹15,677 crore and covering 148.17 km, is scheduled for completion by December 2027. Patil called on the Railway Ministry for assistance in clearing encroachments as specified in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and for swift approvals of design projects. He also urged for the sanctioning of land alignments for Corridor-1 and Corridor-3 by June 2024, to ensure the project remains on its projected timeline.
Moreover, Patil mentioned that the Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (K-RIDE) is contemplating integrating the BSRP with the future Peripheral Railway Network and extending it to satellite towns. Dismissing allegations of technical incompetence within the K-RIDE, Patil asserted the organization’s capability to manage large-scale projects like the BSRP, cautioning against the politicization of such claims.