Bengaluru: Four high-speed suburban rail corridors to soon transform citys connectivity
Bengaluru's ambitious Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) is set to revolutionise regional connectivity. Four new lines—Mallige, Kanaka, Sampige, and Parijaata—totalling 160 km and 69 stations, are under construction. Mallige and Kanaka lines are prioritised for completion by late 2026, while Sampige and Parijaata are targeted for 2028.
Bengaluru: Four high-speed suburban rail corridors to soon transform city's connectivity
Bengaluru: To boost Bengaluru’s connectivity with the nearby regions, the Karnataka government has been working on developing a suburban rail network in the city. The network will initially have four lines, which are under construction; many sections of these lines are expected to open in December 2026.
Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) rolls out four rail corridors for regional connectivity. The names of the corridors are based on indigenous flowers in Kannada: Sampige (Magnolia champaca or Champaka in English), Mallige (Jasmine), Parijaata (Nyctanthes arbor-trists or night blooming jasmine in English) and Kanaka (Crossandra infundibuliformis or firecracker flower in English). Combining their abbreviated form, they form the word ‘Sa-m-par-ka’, meaning connectivity.
The total length of the entire network is 160 kilometres and will have 69 stations. The construction work on two priority lines, Mallige and Kanaka (Lines 2 and 4), began in 2022. These are slated to get operationalised by the end of 2026. The other two lines, Sampige (Line 1) and Parijaata (Line 3), are slated to get completed by 2028.
Bengaluru under-construction suburban rail corridors
1. Mallige (Corridor-2 or Line-2)
The Mallige corridor connects Benniganahalli with Chikkabanavara. It spans 27 km and will have 15 stations. The line, along with the other three, was approved by the Central Government in October 2020. The construction on the line began in 2022. V Sommana, the minister for railways in Karnataka, cited the line along with Kanaka (Line 4) as a priority corridor.
The Mallige Line project has been divided into two packages: C2A with eight stations and C2B with four. The Line will interchange with many existing and upcoming metro lines. These include with Purple & Parijaata Line at Benniganahalli, with Green Line at Kasthurinagara, with Blue, Orange and Red Lines at Hebbala, and with Green and Sampige Line at Yeshavanthapura.
2. Kanaka (Corridor-4 or Line-4)
The Kanaka Line is a 35 km line that will connect Heelalige and Whitefield and have 17 stations. The construction work on the line commenced in 2024. The project was divided into two phases: C4A from Heelalige to Kaggadasapura and C4B from Channasandara to Rajanakunte. The expected date for the completion of this corridor is March 2027.
The Kanaka Line has an interchange with many existing and upcoming metro corridors, including with Red Line at Karmelaram, with Blue Line at Doddanedundi, with Purple and Mallige Line at Benniganahalli, and with Sampige Line at Yelahanka.
3. Sampaige (Corridor-1 or Line-1)
The Sampaige Line connects the KSR Bengaluru to Devanahalli and the Kempegowda International Airport. The total length of the line is 45 km and has 19 stations. The line was approved by the government in 2019, and the tendering process began in 2024; however, the construction work is yet to be started.
For efficient execution, the project is divided into three packages: C1A (KSR Bengaluru to Yelahanka Junction railway station), C1B (Yelahanka Junction and ends in Devanhalli town) and C1B branch towards Airport. The Line has an interchange with many other existing and upcoming corridors, including with the Purple and Parijaata Line at KSR Bengaluru, with the Green Line at Srirampura, with Green and Mallige Line at Muthyalanagara, with Kanaka Line at Yelahanka, with Blue Line at Airport City and KIA.
4. Parijaata (Corridor-3 or Line-3)
The Parijaata Line spanning 35 km with 14 stations connects Kengeri with Whitefield. The process for initiation of the project is being carried out. The corridor along with Sampige is set to be completed by June 2029. The line will have interchanges with several existing metro and other corridors including at Jnanabharathi in Purple Line, at KSR Bengaluru with Purple and Sampige Line, at Cantonment Railway Station with Pink Line, at Baiyyappanahalli with Purple Line, at KR Pura with Purple and Blue Line, and at Whitefield with Blue Line.
To speed up the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways created a joint venture called K-RIDE. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in the 2020 budget announced that the project would be executed with a sum of Rs 18,600 crores. The centre will also provide 20 per cent of the equity along with external assistance.