Ashwini Vaishnaw: Rs 7 crore allocated for studying feasibility of circular railway line around Bengaluru

The Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on November 27 that a circular railway line is in the planning stages around Bengaluru, with Rs 7 crore allocated for relevant studies.

The circular line will feature eight paths or inward connections originating from towns such as Nelamangala, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, and Malur, situated around Bengaluru. Vaishnaw revealed that the circular line would comprise ten spokes, or inward connections, along with one complete ring, spanning a total length of 287 km.

During his visit to the city, the minister also assessed the progress of the Yeshwantpur railway station and other projects in Karnataka.

Addressing concerns about delays in the implementation of the suburban railway project, Vaishnaw attributed the setbacks to Union governments in power before 2014.

He highlighted that the first corridor of the project has now come to fruition. Originally slated for fast-tracking following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement in June 2022, the suburban railway project for Bengaluru is expected to be completed in 40 months, at an estimated cost of Rs 15,767 crore.

Emphasizing the progress in railway infrastructure, Vaishnaw noted that last year, the railways added 5,200 km of tracks—equivalent to the entire railway network of Switzerland. Additionally, 57 stations within Karnataka are currently under development.