In what could soon alleviate the daily commute for those who travel to the State capital for work, the State government has proposed a Bengaluru suburban railway system connecting Mandya and Kengeri, Tumakuru and Yeshwantapur, and Whitefield and Byappanahalli (in Bengaluru) in the first phase.
The estimated cost of the entire project is Rs. 9,000 crore. The State has requested the Centre to take up first phase of the project, which would cost Rs. 1,000 crore. This would help ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru city, which has emerged as the country’s technology capital apart from being the leading IT hub.
The State government had discussed the suburban railway project in the Invest-Karnataka meet held recently. The project requires minimal intervention; it only needs upgrading of existing facilities and negates building from scratch.
Addressing presspersons on the project, Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George on Monday said the Centre has shown the green signal for the Bengaluru suburban railway project. Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is likely to announce the project in the Railway Budget later this month.
The project would be a joint venture initiative envisaging 49 per cent investment and ownership by the Railways and 51 per cent share to the State.
“The State is ready to take up the suburban railway project under cost-sharing formula with the Centre. Mr. Prabhu has suggested formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to execute the project,” Mr. George replied to a question.
Mr. George chaired a meeting with Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy and Deputy Mayor Hemalatha Gopalaiah on the Malaysian government owned UDA Holdings Berhad’s proposal on installing LED streetlights in Bengaluru.
UDA Holdings Berhad Chairman Datuk Mohd Shafei Abdullah moved the proposal of installing LED streetlights with digital display advertisement hoardings.
The company would install streetlights free of cost and wants to share advertisement revenue with the BBMP.
Greater connectivity
Total cost of suburban rail project: Rs. 9,000 cr.
First phase to cost Rs. 1,000 cr.
Centre asks State to launch SPV
Centre likely to announce project in Union Railway Budget
