Bengaluru’s mega connectivity project gets a shot in the arm with loan from German bank

Bengaluru's ambitious rail project, which would connect the city to suburbs Heelalige (Electronic City), Kengeri, Devanahalli (near the international airport), and Chikabanvara took yet another step to reality on Friday, with a loan of Rs 4,561 crore from Germany-based KFW Development Bank. All the four corridors of the project are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

Two of these corridors are already in the final stages of development, marking a crucial milestone in the project's progression, said Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil. “The implementation of BSRP (Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project) funded by the loan will contribute to better mobility for citizens, reduced vehicular pollution, and the creation of a better environment resulting in improved quality of life in the city of Bengaluru,” he added.

Once completed, these 148 kilometers of railway tracks will have a total of 58 stations, and are expected to cater to approximately 10 lakh commuters daily, bridging the connectivity gap between Bangalore city and its outer zones. The total project is to be built at a cost of over Rs. 15,700 crore.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the BSRP in June 2022, and had set a deadline of 40 months for the completion of the project. The primary agreement for the loan had been signed between the Centre’s Department of Economic Affairs and KFW in December last year, with the supplementary agreement ratified on Friday.