Bengaluru Suburban Rail's Mallige Line: Karnataka’s Leader Calls For Action On Stalled Progress

Karnataka's Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, recently conducted an on-site inspection of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) along Corridor 2, known as the Mallige Line.

The inspection took place at the Kanakanagar railway gate in eastern Bengaluru, specifically focusing on level crossings 144A and 140.

The Mallige Line, which runs from Kanakanagar to Hebbal, aims to eliminate six level crossings by constructing an elevated section. This innovative design addresses the challenges of a densely populated area, where traditional road overbridges (RoBs) are impractical.

The Railway Infrastructure Development Company Karnataka (K-RIDE) is overseeing the implementation of the project.

According to Rajneesh, this development marks a significant infrastructure milestone for high-traffic urban areas, where conventional solutions like RoBs are often unfeasible due to limited space. "The entire section exemplifies this project," she stated, emphasizing its strategic importance for enhancing urban mobility.

Construction at the level crossings will be carried out in phases, starting with the BSRP side. Once this initial section is completed, Indian Railways (IR) trains will be temporarily rerouted to the newly constructed tracks. The existing railway tracks will then be elevated and restructured without interrupting services. Ultimately, both the BSRP and Indian Railways will operate on their dedicated tracks.

Expressing her frustration with the prolonged delays, Rajneesh instructed officials and contractors to expedite the construction process. Officials have attributed these setbacks to several issues, including encroachment on railway land, delays in land acquisition, and complications in relocating utility services from various agencies, as reported by The Hindu.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) Overview

The commuter rail network will consist of four corridors, 57 stations, and span 148.17 km:

• Sampige (Corridor 1): KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli (41 km), connecting to Kempegowda International Airport
• Mallige (Corridor 2): Baiyappanahalli to Chikkabanavara (25.14 km)
• Parijatha (Corridor 3): Kengeri to Whitefield (35.52 km)
• Kanaka (Corridor 4): Heelalige to Rajankunte (46.24 km)

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project will connect the city with its satellite townships, suburbs, and surrounding rural areas through a rail-based rapid-transit system.

On June 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the suburban rail project in Bengaluru.

While the Mallige and Kanaka lines (Corridors 2 and 4) are expected to be completed by December 2025, the remaining corridors (Sampige and Parijatha lines) will take longer, as K-RIDE has not yet awarded contracts for groundwork on these two corridors.

Once fully operational, the BSRP is projected to accommodate 984,000 passengers daily, significantly alleviating Bengaluru's traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity to its suburbs and satellite townships.