Bengaluru suburban rail deadline pushed to 2030, PM flags 41-month delay in key urban mobility project

Revised timelines presented at a national review meeting extend completion of the 148-km suburban rail network by over three years, with corridor-wise deadlines now stretching till March 2030.

Bengaluru’s long-pending suburban rail project, aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city, has faced a major setback with its completion deadline pushed to March 2030. The 148-kilometre project, which received approval in 2020 and was earlier scheduled to be completed by October 2026, will now be delayed by more than three years.

The revised timelines were presented by the implementing agency at a recent high-level PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) review meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. During the meeting, corridor-wise completion schedules were shared, reflecting the extended execution period.

As per the updated plan, the 25-km Mallige Line connecting Benniganahalli and Chikkabanavara is now targeted for completion by December 2028. The 46-km Kanaka Line between Heelalige and Rajanakunte has been given a new deadline of June 2029. The remaining two corridors,  the 41-km Sampige Line linking KSR Bengaluru City, Yelahanka, and Devanahalli, and the 35-km Parijata Line from Kengeri to Whitefield- are now expected to be completed by March 2030.

The delay drew strong criticism during the review, with the Prime Minister expressing displeasure over a 41-month lag. The project, first proposed in 1983, had been promised to be completed within 40 months when its foundation stone was laid in 2022. At the time of approval, the central government had also directed that the Sampige Line, which includes the airport corridor, be completed within three years.

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However, the state government had reportedly asked the implementing agency to defer work on this corridor, as it runs parallel to the metro’s airport line. Officials were concerned that executing both projects simultaneously could affect foreign funding availability.

Earlier commitments were also missed, including the plan to operationalise a priority stretch of the Mallige Line between Chikkabanavara and Yeshwantpur by December 2025. Senior officials attended the PRAGATI meeting on December 31, where detailed explanations were sought, and directions were given to examine losses caused by the delay and fix responsibility.

In a key development ahead of the meeting, the railway zone approved the revised alignment of the Sampige Line, which had been pending for over two years. The line will run alongside existing railway tracks before branching off near the trumpet interchange and passing through BK Halli and the Aerospace Park.

Land acquisition remains a challenge. While acquisition for the Kanaka Line is complete, remaining land for the Mallige Line is expected to be secured by the end of January. Requests for land handover for the Sampige Line are planned next, followed by acquisition for the Parijata Line.

Meanwhile, fresh civil works tenders for the Mallige Line were floated after a major contractor exited the project in March 2025. The works have been divided into three packages, with the first bid opening scheduled for January 22.