K-RIDE to Resume Corridor 2 and 4 Work as Bengaluru Suburban Rail Gets New Push

The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) is getting back on track after several months of delay. K-RIDE, the agency in charge of the project, has invited new tenders for two railway corridors where work had stopped due to contract issues.

The new push comes after a detailed review by the K-RIDE board. It shows the government's effort to meet Bengaluru's growing need for better suburban train services.

The two corridors in focus are Corridor 2 (Benniganahalli-Chikkabanavara, 25 km) and Corridor 4 (Heelalige-Rajanukunte, 47 km). Fresh tenders will be floated in smaller work packages to make construction faster. Officials said that Corridor 2 work orders will be given by December, while Corridor 4 will begin early next year.

The suburban rail project, covering 149 km, was supposed to be finished within 40 months from June 2020. But delays in coordination between the state government and Indian Railways, along with contractor disputes, have slowed progress. So far, only 18.5% of the work has been completed.

The earlier contractor, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), had ended its agreement for both corridors and filed claims worth Rs 505 crore, saying only parts of the project area were handed over. K-RIDE has disputed these claims and is continuing legal proceedings while moving forward with new tenders.

To save time, Corridor 2 will be split into three parts - Chikkabanavara-Yeshwantpur, Yeshwantpur-Hebbal, and Hebbal-Benniganahalli. Work on Corridor 4 will start after 80% of land acquisition is complete. Officials said dividing the work into smaller parts will help speed up construction and control costs.

K-RIDE has also made progress in buying new trains. Rail authorities have approved 306 modern coaches worth Rs 4,270 crore. These metro-like trains will offer better comfort and efficiency, and they will also connect smoothly with the Namma Metro network.

Experts believe the new tender plan is a smart move that will help restart stalled projects and reduce delays caused by legal issues. As Bengaluru continues to grow, the suburban rail system will play a big role in reducing road traffic, cutting pollution, and improving daily travel for lakhs of people.

With new tenders, modern trains, and a clear action plan, the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project could soon become a strong part of the city's public transport system - helping make travel faster, cleaner, and easier for everyone.