Minister V. Somanna said the ambitious Bengaluru Circular Rail Project has been stalled due to a sharp rise in estimated costs and financial constraints.
BENGALURU
Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna announced that the much-anticipated Bengaluru Circular Rail Project, envisioned to enhance connectivity to the city’s outskirts, has been put on hold due to a steep rise in project costs and financial constraints.
Speaking after visiting the railway depot near Yeshwantpur railway station as part of the Railway Department’s month-long cleanliness drive, Somanna revealed that the project’s original estimate of ₹81,000 crore has now risen to nearly ₹1 lakh crore. He said about 2,500 acres of land would be required for acquisition, making the project’s execution unfeasible at present.
Somanna emphasized that while several expansion initiatives are underway — including the extension of metro services to Kanakapura and Tumakuru, and the doubling of key railway lines around Bengaluru — the circular rail project cannot be taken up immediately but will be reconsidered in the future.
He further informed that the re-tendering process for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project is in progress, with a meeting scheduled next week to expedite the tender and construction process.
The 240 km-long Bengaluru Circular Rail Project, connecting Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, and Bengaluru City, was announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Designed to serve the city’s transport needs for the next 50 years, a survey costing ₹7 crore was launched last December, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently under preparation.