Almost three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised in a speech that the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Undertaking (BSRP) could be accomplished in 40 months, the Karnataka authorities on Monday appointed Dr Vasanthi Amar as particular deputy commissioner for Okay-RIDE, the implementing company of the long-pending undertaking.
The event comes amid requires a full-time managing director to steer the slow-moving undertaking on a battle footing.
Presently, Okay-RIDE, a particular objective automobile, is headed by managing director (MD) Dr Manjula N, who additionally holds an extra cost of secretary to authorities, infrastructure growth, ports and inland water transport division.
Rail fans and BJP MPs have been demanding a full-time MD, who can be a technocrat, to undertake the 149 km BSRP community.
“I’ve persistently hunted for the appointment of a full-time MD for @KridePrm to make sure efficient administration and well timed completion of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail undertaking. My 15-Level Motion Plan to DCM @DKShivakumar final week additionally emphasises this, together with a number of interventions prior to now,” Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya stated in a submit on X on Monday.
I’ve persistently hunted for the appointment of a full-time MD for @KridePrm to make sure efficient administration and well timed completion of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail undertaking.
My 15-Level Motion Plan to DCM @DKShivakumar final week additionally emphasises this, together with a number of… pic.twitter.com/hjctqeIEPu
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 26, 2025
“With a Particular Deputy Commissioner now appointed, I hope severe progress and centered motion start on this long-pending, essential step for Bengaluru’s city mobility. However we nonetheless press our demand for a full time technocrat MD for the SPV,” he added.
Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan additionally expressed displeasure over the shortage of a full-time MD for the final two years for the Rs 18,600 crore undertaking. “Okay-RIDE, executing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail undertaking, has had no full-time MD for two years. As an alternative, a 2017-batch officer who has been awaiting posting for years has been made Particular Deputy Commissioner. How can such a important undertaking run on part-time, inexperienced management?” the parliamentarian questioned in a submit on X on Monday.
He additionally requested, “My inquiries to the State Govt: Was this an current submit at Okay-RIDE, or was it specifically created to accommodate a junior officer awaiting posting? Is that this the seriousness with which a ₹15,767 Cr undertaking is dealt with? A full-time MD have to be appointed with out additional delay.”
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The BSRP spans 149.348 km throughout 4 corridors: Sampige (KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli, 41.4 km), Mallige (Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara, 25.01 km), Parijaata (Kengeri to Whitefield, 35.52 km), and Kanaka (Heelalige to Rajanukunte, 46.24 km).
Of all of the corridors, solely Hall 2 has seen some development, but at a sluggish tempo, with lower than 30 per cent of the works accomplished. The civil work tender was awarded to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on August 26, 2022, for Rs 859.97 crore. Nonetheless, L&T has reportedly hinted at pulling out of the undertaking as a consequence of land acquisition hurdles. L&T has cited the non-availability of land as a main motive for halting work.
Roughly 28.56 acres of personal land and 91 acres of railway land are required for Hall 2, however delays in land handover by South Western Railway and Okay-RIDE have stalled progress. Non-public landowners have obtained courtroom keep orders, and a few demand larger compensation, additional complicating acquisition.
The 7.4 km part between Chikkabanavara and Yeshwantpur as a part of Hall 2 was focused for completion by 2025 finish, with the complete hall anticipated to be operational by December 2026. Nonetheless, with the present tempo of labor, Okay-RIDE is uncertain of assembly its deadlines.
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As for the rolling inventory, the preliminary public-private partnership (PPP) mannequin for procuring 306 rail coaches failed as a consequence of an absence of bids. A brand new fairness mannequin with 50:50 funding (Rs 2,135 crore from Karnataka, awaiting Union railway ministry approval) has been okayed by the Karnataka Cupboard in November 2024. Tenders are prepared however await the central authorities order and Railway Board approval.