Rs 4.93bn will go towards the construction of two additional tracks on the 25km double-track line between Bangalore Cantt and Whitefield. Construction is expected to take three years and the project will provide additional capacity on a line used by 62,000 commuters every weekday.
The project had initially been sanctioned as part of the 1997-1998 railway budget, but progress has been stalled by land acquisition issues.
Other projects include track-doubling on the 21.7km Yesvantpur - Baiyyappanahalli - Channasandra line (Rs 1.7bn) and the 48km Baiyyappanahalli - Hosur line (Rs 3.76bn) and Rs 150m for capacity enhancement works around the highly-congested Bangalore City station.
Recently completed rail projects in the state include track-doubling on the Yesvantpur - Yelahanka and Yelahanka - Channasandra sections and a new coach maintenance facility at Baiyyappanahalli.
These works are in addition to the proposed elevated Suburban Railway System for the Bangalore area. The project, which was announced in the Indian government’s 2018-19 budget, and will be implemented by IR and the state of Karnataka either as a joint venture or on a cost-sharing basis.
