Delinker at 12:32, 31 July 2023

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{{short description|Planned suburban rail network in Bengaluru, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox public transit
| name = Bengaluru Commuter Rail
| locale = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India
| transit_type = [[Commuter rail|Suburban rail]]
| began_operation =
| operation_will_start =
| system_length = {{convert|148.17|km|mi}}
| lines = 4
| stations =
| ridership =
| track_gauge = [[Broad Gauge]]
| operator = [[Bangalore Suburban Rail Company Limited]], [[Indian Railways]]
| map = [[File:Bangalore Railway Map.png|Bangalore City Railway Map with functioning metro lines|250px]]
| vehicles =
| end =
| character =
| website =
| chief_executive =
| annual_ridership =
| imagesize =
| start =
| line_number =
| area served = In and around Bangalore
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| caption =
| alt =
| image =
| map_state =
}}

'''Bengaluru Commuter Rail''' is a proposed [[suburban rail]] network for the city of [[Bangalore]]. A Commuter Rail system for the city was first proposed in 1983. Since then, several different route proposals were made but no Commuter Rail project took shape. It was finally approved in the 2019 Railway Budget. On 1 February 2020, finance minister, [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] mentioned in her budget that the project would be implemented at cost of Rs 18,600 crores. The central government would provide 20% of the equity and facilitate external assistance up to 60 percent of the project cost.

==History==
A Suburban rail service existed in Bangalore as early as in 1963 for HAL employees to commute from City Railway station to Vimanapura Railway station. A formal Commuter Rail system for Bangalore had first been proposed by a team from Southern Railway in 1983. Their recommendation had been to invest in 3 commuter rail lines and a 58-km ring railway. The package was estimated to cost Rs. 6,500 million in 1983 terms (US$628.6 million) spread over a 25-year period.

In 1993, the State of Karnataka established another committee to look into mass rapid transit. This committee recommended essentially the same put forward by Southern Railway in 1983 and the same circular railway.

In 2007, RITES ([[RITES|Rail Indian Technical and Economic Services]]) was commissioned by the Government of Karnataka to conduct a CTTP (Comprehensive Traffic & Transportation Plan) for the city of Bangalore. Their report called for 10 Suburban Rail routes totaling 204.0 km. As per the report, Commuter Rail (along existing rail routes) would cost much lesser than mass rapid transit systems.
[[File:CRS route map - Schematic.jpg|left|thumb|Proposal made by Praja in 'Call To Action' Report (July 2010)]]
In July 2010, a proposal was made by [[Praja Bangalore]] in a 'Call To Action' report. This plan was supported & presented at the center for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CisTup), [[Indian Institute of Science]] (IISc), Bangalore. The proposal had suggested a 376 km network around three hubs ([[Yeswanthpur]], Benniganahalli & [[Yelahanka]]) with 42 new stations.<ref>{{cite web|title=CRS: Call to Action Report|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/35799171/Bengaluru-Commuter-Rail-Call-to-Action-Reprint-2}}</ref> A key recommendation was to use the congested KSR, Bangalore city station only as a pass-through station.

In November 2011, RITES conducted a feasibility study exclusively for suburban rail services in Bangalore and submitted their final report to the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) in November 2012.<ref>{{cite news |author=Aparajita Ray |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-18/bangalore/32298430_1_commuter-rail-feasibility-study-rites |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112112327/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-18/bangalore/32298430_1_commuter-rail-feasibility-study-rites |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 January 2014 |title=RITES sent commuter rail feasibility study to DULT |date=18 June 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> The 179-page report studied all existing routes totaling 440.8 km of the rail network in & around the city & development of Suburban Rail services over three phases.<ref name="DNA1">{{cite web|author=Suchith Kidiyoor|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_440-km-commuter-rail-network-planned-in-karnataka_1762943 |title=440-km commuter rail network planned in Karnataka |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=10 November 2012 |access-date=30 July 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Bangalore Suburban Rail Network1.png|left|thumb|Existing and Proposed Rail Network]]
The state government approved the suburban rail system on 5 July 2013. Chief Minister [[Siddaramaiah]] approved the system in the 2013-14 state budget that he presented on 9 July 2013.<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/archive/02750/Rail_Budget_2016_s_2750656a.pdf ref]>{{cite news |author=Chitra V. Ramani |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/green-signal-for-suburban-train-system/article4909629.ece |title=Green signal for suburban train system |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=13 July 2013 |access-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> The budget proposed the setting up of the Bangalore Suburban Rail Corporation Limited, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to implement the project estimated to cost {{INRConvert|87.59|b}}.<ref>{{cite news |agency=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-13/bangalore/40553536_1_detailed-project-report-underbridges-railway |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130730130717/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-13/bangalore/40553536_1_detailed-project-report-underbridges-railway |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2013 |title=Bangalore suburban rail a Kharge-Siddu dream |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=13 July 2013 |access-date=30 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/govt-to-set-up-spv-to-implement-bangalore-suburban-rail-system-113071200594_1.html |title=Govt to set up SPV to implement Bangalore suburban rail system |work=[[Business Standard]]|date=12 July 2013 |access-date=30 July 2013}}</ref>

In the 2016-17 Railway budget, Union Railway Minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] announced a partnership with Karnataka government for a Rs. 9000-crore Suburban Rail network for Bangalore, but did not allocate any funds.<ref name="Phase 1 feasible" /><ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2015-09-25|title=State seeks Centre’s nod for suburban rail project|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/state-seeks-centres-nod-for-suburban-rail-project/article7687205.ece|access-date=2020-09-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> On 3 February 2016, the state government proposed a modified version of the original RITES plan. This looked to kick-start the project with a Rs. 1,000-crore investment to connect Mandya with Kengeri, Whitefield with [[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]] and [[Tumkur]] with Yeswanthpur. The state government released 100 crore towards this.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suburban rail gets a push, railways to link 4 stations|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2016/nov/17/suburban-rail-gets-a-push-railways-to-link-4-stations-1539543.html|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref> The state appointed RITES again to study the feasibility of the project, and the latter's survey deemed the project as feasible.<ref name="Phase 1 feasible">{{cite web|title=Phase 1 of suburban rail network feasible: George|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Phase-1-of-suburban-rail-network-feasible-George/articleshow/55472267.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> However, Railways stated that the proposed Phase Two of the project (linking Tumkur and Yeswanthpur) was not feasible.<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitefield-Byappanahalli suburban rail link okayed|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/581507/whitefield-byappanahalli-suburban-rail-link.html|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref>

In November 2018, RITES prepared a revised plan for a 161 km network that was again amended in August 2019 to reduce costs. Out of 82 stations, 29 stations were deleted, route length reduced to 148 km & costs lowered to Rs. 16,000 crores. This was finally accepted by Government of India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RITES submits revised DPR of Bengaluru Suburban Rail project|url=http://www.railnews.in/rites-submits-revised-dpr-of-bengaluru-suburban-rail-project/}}</ref>

==Route proposals==

=== A) Routes recommended by RITES for CTTP - 2007 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Corridor'''
|'''Length (km)'''
|-
|Kengeri - Bangalore City Station
|13.0
|-
|Bangalore City Station - Whitefield
|24.0
|-
|Bangalore City Station – [[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]] Via Lottegollahalli
|23.0
|-
|Lottegollahalli to Yelahanka
|7.0
|-
|Banaswadi up to BMA Boundary
|29.0
|-
|Kengeri- BMA Boundary
|9.0
|-
|Yeshwantpur to BMA Boundary
|14.0
|-
|BMA Boundary – Hosur
|12.0
|-
|BMA Boundary- Ramanagaram
|23.0
|-
|BMA Boundary to Tumkur
|50.0
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''204.0'''
|}

=== B) Routes proposed by Praja in July, 2010 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''Route'''
|'''Distance (km)'''
|-
|Yeswantpur - Yelahanka - Devanahalli – Chickballapur
|60
|-
|Benninganahalli - Thanisandra - Yelahanka – Doddballapur
|37
|-
|Yeswantpur - Benninganahalli - Anekal – Hosur
|66
|-
|Tumkur/Nelamangala - Yeswantpur – Benninganahalli
|83
|-
|Yelahanka - Benninganahalli - Whitefield - Malur – Bangarpet
|80
|-
|Yelahanka - Yeshwantpur - City - Kengeri – Ramanagara
|50
|-
|'''Total route length (km)'''
|'''376'''
|}

=== C) Routes studied by RITES, as per their final report of November, 2012 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|'''From'''
|'''To'''
|'''Distance (km)'''
|-
|City
|Mandya
|92.88
|-
|City
|Yeshwanthpur
|5.35
|-
|Yeshwanthpur
|Tumkur
|64.00
|-
|Yeshwanthpur
|Yelahanka
|12.45
|-
|Yelahanka
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]]
|19.23
|-
|Yeshwanthpur
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]]
|16.12
|-
|Yelahanka
|Dodballapur
|20.72
|-
|Yelahanka
|Chikkaballapura
|46.05
|-
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]]
|Hosur
|48.59
|-
|City
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]]
|10.76
|-
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]]
|Bangarpet
|59.45
|-
|Soladevanahalli
|Kunigal
|45.2
|-
| colspan="2" |Total →
|440.8
|}

=== D) Routes proposed by RITES & approved ===
{| class="wikitable"
| rowspan="2" |'''Route'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Distance'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Ridership'''

'''(Estd, Lakhs)'''
| colspan="2" |'''Length (km)'''
| colspan="2" |'''No. of Stations'''
|-
|'''Elevated'''
|'''Surface'''
|'''Elevated'''
|'''Surface'''
|-
|KSR Bengaluru City to Devanahalli
|41.40
|2.82
|18.98
|22.42
|8
|7
|-
|[[Baiyyappanahalli railway station|Baiyappanahalli]] to Chikkabanavara
|25.01
|2.03
|12.905
|12.105
|6
|8
|-
|Kengri to Whitefield
|35.52
|1.64
|10.40
|25.12
|4
|10
|-
|Heelalige to Rajanakunte
|46.24
|3.34
|13.29
|32.95
|4
|15
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''148.17'''
|'''9.83'''
|'''55.575'''
|'''92.595'''
|'''22'''
|'''40*'''
|}
''<sup>*The total number of stations is 58 (figures under individual routes include interchange stations).</sup>''

== Current Status ==
Though approved in principle by Government of India, budget allocations have been paltry over the last few years as only token amounts have been allocated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=5 Feb|first=Christin Mathew Philip / TNN /|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=22:10|title=Rs 18,600-cr Bengaluru suburban rail gets just Rs 1 crore in Pink Book {{!}} Bengaluru News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/rs-18600-cr-bengaluru-suburban-rail-gets-just-rs-1-crore-in-pink-book/articleshow/73967725.cms|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=www.ETGovernment.com|title=Budget 2020: Push to Bengaluru suburban rail project will boost urban transport in Karnataka - ET Government|url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobility/budget-2020-push-to-bengaluru-suburban-rail-project-will-boost-urban-transport-in-karnataka/73866937|access-date=2020-09-29|website=ETGovernment.com|language=en}}</ref> On 7 October, 2020, the project was approved by Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (headed by the Prime Minister).<ref>{{Cite web|title=K-RIDE floats Land Survey Tender for Bengaluru Suburban Rail|url=https://railwaysyearbook.com/2020/02/27/k-ride-floats-land-survey-tender-for-bengaluru-suburban-rail/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=K-RIDE begins survey process for suburban rail project|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-infrastructure/k-ride-begins-survey-process-for-suburban-rail-project-808479.html}}</ref> The State Government commenced providing budgetary support for the Suburban Rail project & 500 crores was allocated in the 2020-21 budget.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-06|title=Karnataka Budget: Rs 500 crore for Bengaluru suburban railway comes as a saving grace|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/karnataka-budget-rs-500-crore-for-bengaluru-suburban-railway-comes-as-a-saving-grace-811004.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/mooted-37-yrs-ago-148km-bengaluru-suburban-rail-project-wins-nod/articleshow/78544898.cms</ref> Meanwhile, [https://kride.in/ KRide]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-05|title=Suburban rail SPV to take shape in a month|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-infrastructure/suburban-rail-spv-to-take-shape-in-a-month-744984.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> has kick-started the Suburban project by calling tenders for Land Survey, hiring staff etc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tender for Land Survey floated|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-suburban-rail-tender-for-land-survey-floated/articleshow/74323157.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Preparatory works begin for suburban rail project|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/feb/27/preparatory-works-begin-for-suburban-rail-project-2109171.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-06|title=Long-pending Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, worth Rs 17,000 crore awaits clearance from Centre; details here|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/long-pending-bengaluru-suburban-rail-project-worth-rs-17000-crore-awaits-clearance-from-centre-details-here/1786467/|access-date=2020-09-29|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=With Finance Ministry Clearing Bangalore Suburban Project, K-Ride Starts Hiring Engineers|url=https://railwaysyearbook.com/2020/06/27/with-finance-ministry-clearing-bangalore-suburban-project-k-ride-starts-hiring-engineers/}}</ref>

==Current operation by Indian Railways==

# [[Indian Railways]] south west railway zone operates several suburban train services from Bengaluru to Hosur, Jolarpettai, Tumakuru, Marikuppam, Bangarpet, Hindupur, Mysuru and Hassan.
# Hosur and Jolarpettai is across the border in Tamil Nadu and Hindupur is in Andhra Pradesh, while Tumakuru, Bangarpet, Mysuru and Hassan are in Karnataka.
# Service to and from Hassan, Hindupur, Hosur and Tumakuru will operate from Yesvantpur station in the city's northern suburb, while service to Marikuppan, Bangarpet and Jolarpettai will be to and from Bengaluru main city station.
# The zonal railway has been operating daily suburban service between Bengaluru and Mysuru. Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit (DEMU) and Mainline Electrical Unit (MEMU) cars will be used for the services on the suburban routes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-04|title=Railways to restart skeletal suburban train services in and around Bengaluru|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/railways-restart-skeletal-suburban-train-services-and-around-bengaluru-138972|access-date=2020-12-04|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/rssarticleshow/msid-3923541,prtpage-1.cms Govt. exploring rail line to BIAL]
* [http://praja.in/en/nammarailu Lobby group for commuter rail in Bangalore]
* [http://praja.in/~bangalore/blog/murali772/2009/01/25/drms-presentation-regarding-commuter-rail-etc Presentation by Divisional Rly Manager]
* [http://praja.in/en/blog/silkboard/2010/05/09/report-bangalore-local-train-ride-meet CRS Bangalore Ride and Meet]

{{Suburban railways in India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{coord missing|Karnataka}}

[[Category:Proposed railway lines in India]]
[[Category:Suburban rail in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Bangalore]]

Bengaluru Commuter Rail - Revision history

Delinker at 12:32, 31 July 2023