Karnataka gives Rs 350-crore push to suburban rail

BENGALURU: Ahead of assembly elections, the state government has taken a step towards implementing the suburban rail project for Bengaluru. The move comes almost a year after an agreement was signed between the state and the Centre.

The cabinet on Wednesday gave the administrative approval to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and to share Rs 350 crore (20% equity) for the project. The onus is now on the Railways to share its 20% equity. The remaining 60% will have to be raised through an innovative financing model by the SPV.

The Rs 1,745-crore suburban rail project includes the doubling and electrification of the much-anticipated Baiyappanahalli-Hosur line and Yesvantpur-Channasandra line (via Baiyappanahalli), the creation of automatic signalling on three corridors including Bengaluru-Mandya and Yesvantpur-Tumakuru sections as well as buying of new trains. The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and the Railways picked projects based on the recommendations made in the detailed project report prepared by RITES in 2016.


DULT commissioner Darpan Jain said the project, once completed, will double the capacity of the suburban rail system. “We will be able to add 58 new trains which will translate into 160 new services,” he said.

An announcement on Bengaluru’s suburban rail system is expected also in the Union Budget on Thursday. The full-fledged suburban rail project is estimated to cost Rs 10,929 crore.

Last year, the state government had contributed 80% of the ?345 crore for the conversion of 15 pairs of conventional trains to electric ones and towards augmenting the maintenance facility for electric rakes at Banaswadi. The Railways had promised to introduce new services during peak hours between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield.

DULT THE NODAL AGENCY
The cabinet tasked the DULT to form a standing committee for the overall monitoring and supervision of the city’s suburban rail project until the formation of an SPV. “DULT shall initiate work for the establishment of SPV quickly in a time bound manner,” the note said.

“The Railways should take a proactive role in giving clearance to form an SPV and share its 20% equity. The project should not be further delayed because of the?1,000-crore funding from private companies. The state government, which has given over 2,400 acres to the airport, should also be quick in handing over the land for the suburban project,” commuter rail expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar said.