Bengaluru
The much-awaited ‘Kanaka’ corridor of the suburban rail from Heilalige to Rajanukunte faces significant delays in work commencement, attributed to the non-transfer of land from the South Western Railway. Despite the tender process opening five months ago, the delay in awarding the work contract persists due to pending land allocation. The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company (K-Ride) anticipated initiating work on the ‘Kanaka’ route soon after awarding the tender to the lowest bidder. However, the prolonged land transfer process, with K-Ride requesting 194.07 acres from the South Western Railway, remains unresolved. Reports suggest a delay policy being followed by the railway, hindering post-tender proceedings. Several renowned companies submitted bids for the Kanaka Corridor, but despite technical analysis, the contract awarding remains pending. Railway authorities, directed by the Railway Board’s Gatishakti Yojana Director, have been urged to expedite land handover, setting a 40-month completion timeline for the project. However, despite directives, the issue persists with a lack of resolution even after two months. Furthermore, clashes in development plans between K-Ride and South Western Railway over railway tracks complicate the situation, further delaying the land transfer. The Kanaka corridor, the fourth in the suburban railway project, is crucial, covering 46.285 km, with 8.96 km elevated and 37.92 km at ground level, along with plans for 19 stations. Experts emphasize the urgency for prompt action in resolving these land acquisition hurdles, highlighting potential delays in the project’s timeline without swift intervention from concerned authorities. A deadlock ensues in the ‘Kanaka’ corridor development for the suburban rail project due to land transfer complexities with the South Western Railway. Despite the tender opening and bids from various companies, the delay in land allocation obstructs the project’s progression. K-Ride, overseeing the Suburban Railway Project, faces impediments in initiating work along the Kanaka route, awaiting the land handover of 194.07 acres.
