K'taka: Bengaluru-Tumakuru quadruple rail line project underway; MoS Somanna says land acquisition likely in 5-6 months
Tumakuru, June 20
In a major development aimed at addressing this long-standing issue, the Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna said on Saturday that preliminary preparations for the construction of a quadruple railway line between Bengaluru and neighbouring Tumakuru city are progressing swiftly.
The ambitious infrastructure project is estimated to cost more than Rs 6,000 crore.
According to MoS Somanna, efforts to identify additional land required for the project are underway at a brisk pace.
He indicated that the formal land acquisition process is expected to commence within the next five to six months.
MoS Somanna said, "The detailed project report has been done and it has also been passed in the technical committee. After this it will go to the Cabinet and NITI Aayog Commission. In five to six months, acquisition will begin."
"Bengaluru to Tumakuru city railway track is going to become four-lane. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara is eager to extend the Metro lane from Bengaluru to Tumakuru and we are fully ready for it," he added.
"If at all there is any possibility to develop any city on lines with Bengaluru, it is Tumakuru," he said.
Once completed, the four-track railway corridor will allow express and passenger trains to operate independently without having to wait for signals or crossing clearances.
This is expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Tumakuru by nearly half.
The proposed quadruple railway line is expected to enhance rail connectivity, ease congestion on one of Karnataka's busiest railway corridors, and provide a major boost to daily commuters and regional economic activity.
It can be noted that the number of commuters travelling daily by train between Tumakuru and Bengaluru for employment, education and business purposes is increasing rapidly.
Tumakuru city is a district headquarter, located 68 km away from Bengaluru.
However, the existing double-track railway line between the two cities has been struggling to handle the growing traffic, resulting in frequent train delays and inconvenience to passengers.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative! But I'm skeptical about the 5-6 months timeline for land acquisition. These things always get delayed due to court cases and compensation disputes. Hope the government has learned from past experiences and will streamline the process. Also, extending metro to Tumakuru would be a game changer! 🚇
I've traveled on this route a few times for work. The congestion is real. Quadrupling the line will definitely help, but I wonder if they've done proper feasibility studies. Rs 6,000 crore is a massive investment - hope it's not another white elephant. The metro extension idea sounds good in theory but will be very expensive.
This is exactly what Tumakuru needs! The city is growing so fast but infrastructure hasn't kept up. Better rail connectivity will help decongest Bengaluru too - more people can live in Tumakuru and commute easily. But please, let's also focus on last-mile connectivity from Tumakuru railway station to various parts of the city.
I'm happy to see this development. However, I have a small concern - they mentioned 'express and passenger trains operating independently without waiting for signals.' That's good, but what about the impact on local train services? We need a balanced approach that serves both long-distance and local commuters. Also, hope they prioritize green construction methods.
MoS Somanna is right - Tumakuru has huge potential to develop like Bengaluru if infrastructure improves. The quadruple line plus possible metro extension will transform this corridor. But I really hope they don't displace too many families during land acquisition. Fair compensation and rehabilitation must be ensured
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