Sign in

Vaishnaw urges Karnataka govt to fast-track Bengaluru suburban rail project

Vaishnaw suggested that the authorities employ experts in K-RIDE to fast-track the impending project.

Published on: Mar 15, 2024, 13:20:41 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday urged the Karnataka government to speed up the impending Bengaluru suburban railway project. He suggested that the authorities employ experts in the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) - a joint venture between the state government and the Ministry of Railways - to fast-track the project.

The 148 km Bengaluru suburban rail proposal with four corridors has been a much delayed project, languishing for decades. (Getty Images / Representational Photo)
The 148 km Bengaluru suburban rail proposal with four corridors has been a much delayed project, languishing for decades. (Getty Images / Representational Photo)

READ | Bengaluru Namma Metro's Phase 3 covering entire ORR to be complete by 2028

"A company called KRIDE, which the state government controls, is doing the Bengaluru suburban railway project. It doesn't have people with high technical expertise. I request the Karnataka government to engage such experts so that the project work can be expedited," Vaishnaw said on the matter, as quoted by news agency PTI.

READ | We are planning circular railway network around Bengaluru, says Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

"Bengaluru suburban railway project is very important for the people but unfortunately KRIDE at present lacks the kind of expertise it should have. We need people like E Sreedharan who transformed the public transport system in the country," he added.

The Siddaramaiah-led government in the state recently postponed the project completion date from December 2025 to December 2027, which prompted Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya to hit out at the state government and question the delay.

READ | Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project to be finished by Dec 2027: Karnataka minister

Echoing the sentiments, Vaishnaw said, “The state government needs to understand that railway is a technical subject and bring technical people in KRIDE.”

(With inputs from PTI)

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.