From lack of manpower to over 60 encroachments, what is delaying Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project

However, the ongoing issues with land encroachments, lack of manpower on ground as well as obstacles with utility shifting on the crucial 25-kilometer stretch are affecting the project’s progress.

According to N Manjula, managing director of K-RIDE, implementing agency of the BSRP, there are 62 cases of encroachments along this corridor, primarily involving private buildings and other unauthorised structures on the railway land. The civil works tender for Corridor 2 was awarded to L&T Limited in August 2022.

Project officials disclosed that these structures would need to be surveyed and cleared before construction progresses. However, the clearance process is intricate and time-consuming, requiring the issuance of notices and proper documentation.

“Railway encroachments need to be surveyed, and notices issued to the affected parties. This involves an extensive process of verifying documentation, which consumes time,” stated Manjula.

Additionally, challenges around utility shifting, especially with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and high-tension overhead power lines, have compounded delays. The BWSSB, responsible for water and sewer lines, needs to relocate 15 water and 17 sewer lines from the project site.

However, these relocations are often stalled as they require prior land acquisition, either on railway or private property. Until this land is made available, the BWSSB will be unable to proceed, explained a BSRP official.

“While the agency is ready to shift utilities, they require acquired land to begin work. The delays in land acquisition stall our progress,” the official added. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has been roped in for land acquisition due to its faster processes.

The relocation of overhead high-tension power lines has also created hurdles. Six high-tension power lines traverse the corridor, and one of these will obstruct the project.

Although the remaining five lines do not pose immediate obstacles, they will need to be rerouted before the project reaches completion. Despite these impediments, the state government has issued guidelines to expedite utility shifting and land acquisition. Timelines have been established, with joint agreements between KIADB and the railways setting specific dates for land handover.

According to project authorities, all required land and utility shifts on Corridor 2 are scheduled for completion by March 2025, aligning with the revised goal of completing Phase 1 of the project by September 2026. “The project’s complexity demands coordination across multiple departments, from land acquisition to engineering and other civic authorities. While we deal with land issues, the contractor side faces deployment issues in terms of manpower. We have redrawn the timelines and changed the key dates to meet the target of commissioning the full corridor by December 2026.”

How level crossings are eliminated?

The entire section along corridor 2 involves an innovative solution to eliminate level crossings in a densely populated area where constructing a Road Over Bridge (RoB) is not feasible due to the high urban density. Instead, the entire section of rail will be elevated, allowing the elimination of level crossings without impacting the surrounding community. This strategy is also a first in the country revolutionizing the effectiveness of rail transport, K-RIDE officials said.

Initially, retaining walls are built along the railway boundary to stabilize the area and support the new track arrangement. Next, a temporary or “sacrificial” retaining wall is constructed to hold soil, allowing for earthwork and preparation for the first suburban track.

Once earthwork is complete, the first suburban track is laid, enabling traffic from the existing Indian Railway (IR) track to shift onto this new suburban track. To replace the level crossings, Road Under Bridges (RUBs) are constructed at points where the road previously intersected with the rail.

These underpasses allow vehicles to move safely beneath the railway lines, eliminating the need for direct crossings and significantly reducing accident risks. Following this, the existing IR track is removed, and retaining walls are constructed on the opposite side. Earthwork is carried out to support three additional tracks.

In the final step, two dedicated suburban tracks and two dedicated IR tracks are established, providing a streamlined, uninterrupted flow for both suburban and mainline train services. This approach ensures the complete removal of level crossings in the section, enhancing safety for road users and ensuring smoother rail operations, thus significantly reducing congestion and potential hazards at previous crossing points, K-RIDE officials explained.