The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): Union Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has proposed that the Indian Railways is equipped to take charge and expedite the completion of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) more efficiently than the State government, indicating readiness for discussions should the State agree.
Vaishnaw emphasized the project’s technical demands, stating, “With our superior technology and expertise, Indian Railways stands in a prime position to fast-track the BSRP. This stance is independent of political considerations. We await the State’s agreement to initiate dialogue,” during his visit to the city for various events this Saturday.
Marking a significant shift, this declaration is the Union government’s inaugural explicit expression of interest in assuming control of the BSRP. Recently, Tejasvi Surya, the BJP MP from Bengaluru South, revealed his conversation with Vaishnaw about the Union’s readiness to oversee the project for its swift execution. The BSRP is currently managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Ltd, a collaboration between the State government and Indian Railways.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a statement during the foundation stone laying ceremony in June 2022, lamented the project’s stagnation over four decades, pledging its completion within 40 months. Yet, the State recently extended the project’s timeline to the end of 2027.
Additionally, Vaishnaw announced the Railway Board’s sanction of preliminary works for Bengaluru’s Circular Railway Network, with estimated preparations underway. This 287-km network aims to link Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, Heelalige, and Solur, enhancing connectivity around the metropolis.