Small steps to progress leave BSRP a long way to go

Bengaluru: Despite only completing less than 10 per cent of work in over 67 per cent of time across four years since sanctioning, more sections of the public are now aware that the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) is slowly gaining pace, and realised its significance. Undertaken by the Railway Infrastructure Development Enterprise, Karnataka (K-RIDE), a joint venture between the State and the Centre, the BSRP has seen works taken up at a miserably slow speed, in which rail enthusiasts call it “an insult to snails.” Rajkumar Dugar, founder and convenor of Citizens4Citizens, still feels that the priorities of the top brass are misplaced on the BSRP, despite increased awareness and the resultant work carried out. “According to a study carried out by Ashish Verma of the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Corridors 1 and 3 attract huge demand from the public, and can help decongest the Purple line of Namma Metro,” Dugar said.

Corridor 1 connects Majestic to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and Corridor 3 runs from Kengeri to Whitefiled via Majestic, Cantonment and Benniganahalli. However, tenders for work on both the lines have not been floated yet and still remains on paper, much to the disappointment of Dugar.

“The study also shows how C1 and C3 make both business sense and public welfare. It is almost stupid to scrap C3 as it goes via key transport hubs,” Dugar added. At Present, Corridor 2 (Baiyappanahalli- Chikkabanavara) and Corridor 4 (Heelalige-Rajanakunte) are taken over by Larsen and Toubro Constructions. As per reports, only 28 per cent of works are completed on C2, and four per cent on C4. Another aspect in which the BSRP can propel is expanding it to satellite towns. However, the South Western Railway’s (SWR) refusal to approve a pre-feasibility study on untenable grounds is deplorable, Dugar added.

“How is it that the Railways claim to make a track that allows a speed of 160 kilometres for trains, against the BSRP’s 90 kilometre stance a reason to not allow expansion?,” he questioned. Expansion would help decongest the city and help develop towns like Ramanagara, Magadi, Tumakuru and Hoskote. Another concern put forth is the non-procurement of rolling stock. Despite approvals to obtain coaches, KRIDE is yet to float tenders, it is learnt.