Bengaluru circular railway survey faces delays, DPR in progress

The ambitious Bengaluru Circular Railway project, announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in November 2023 as a long-term solution to the city’s traffic congestion, has hit delays in its survey stage.

According to the South Western Railway (SWR), the survey has been delayed by nearly six months in multiple stretches, particularly around Channarayapatna village on the Devanahalli–Malur segment and Anekal area, due to farmers’ agitations over land acquisition. Farmers in Vaddarahalli and Thirumagondanahalli have also sought realignment of the proposed route to safeguard agricultural land.

Speaking to The Hindu, a senior SWR official said, “Ground surveys, including drone and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) mapping, were completed only after assistance from the State Police and Railway Protection Force. The railway has assured that the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared with efforts to avoid habitated areas, heritage sites, religious structures, and water bodies,”

The Circular Railway is planned as a 240-km network around Bengaluru, requiring around 2,500 acres of land. It is expected to be a 50-year mobility solution by connecting peripheral regions and integrating with the suburban rail system and National Highways, easing pressure on the city’s road infrastructure while boosting connectivity for commuters and industries, according to officials.

To manage the scale and costs, SWR has proposed a phased implementation: Phase I: Nidavanda – Doddaballapura – Devanahalli – Malur (96 km), Phase II: Malur – Anekal Road – Hejjala (98 km), Phase III: Hejjala – Solur – Nidavanda (46 km). In total, the network will span 240 km in three phases under the DPR plan.

Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna had earlier described the project as an “ambitious and forward-looking plan” designed to transform Bengaluru’s mobility landscape, stressing that it would play a key role in future-proofing the city’s infrastructure.

“The DPR, once finalised, will determine the technical details. The DPR under preparation proposes funding by the Government of India,” official added.