Bengaluru to be linked by quadruple railway lines to several destinations within 100 km of city

V Somanna, Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti

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Quadruple railway lines will be developed to cities within a 100-km radius of Bengaluru, said V Somanna, Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti , after inaugurating a newly constructed road overbridge near Elekeri in Channapattana taluk in Karnataka.Earlier, Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil had voiced several railway-related demands concerning the state. He sought the Union Government to develop quadruple railway lines from Bengaluru to Tumakuru, Mysuru, Hindupura via Gauribidanuru and Kolara. Responding positively to these demands, Somanna said the survey for the Bengaluru–Tumakuru quadruple railway line has been completed and the tendering process will begin shortly.The project is expected to be completed within the next two years. He added that it has also been decided to undertake a survey for the proposed Bengaluru–Mysuru quadruple railway line.Several proposalsIn response to Patil’s proposal for a parallel road and railway corridor between Sakleshapura and Gundya to enhance coastal connectivity, Somanna agreed that a quadruple railway line between Bengaluru and Mangaluru is necessary and will be considered.Somanna further said that work on the Tumakuru–Chitradurga–Davanagere railway line is progressing at a brisk pace. He added, “Patil has also sought doubling of the track on this route, and the proposal would also be considered.”The programme was attended by MP Dr C N Manjunath, MLA C P Yogeeshwara, Bengaluru South District Commissioner Yashavantha Gurikar, South Western Railway Chief Administrative Officer A K Gupta, Additional Divisional Railway Manager Praveen Katarki, Infrastructure Department Joint Secretary Chandrashekhara and other senior officials.Somanna and Patil travelled from Bengaluru Railway Station to Channapatna in the SPIC (Self-Propelled Inspection Car). During the journey, Patil discussed ongoing and proposed railway projects in Karnataka with the Union Minister and also handed over a memorandum outlining the state’s key railway demands.Responding to Patil’s request to introduce a Vande Bharat Sleeper service to Vijayapura in the Kittur Karnataka region, Somanna announced that the service is expected to commence within the next three to four months. He said that a Vande Bharat Sleeper train, instead of the regular Vande Bharat service, would be introduced and that a formal decision in this regard would be taken shortly.He further announced that the special train currently operating twice a week between Bengaluru and Vijayapura would be made a permanent service and minor issues on the route would also be addressed.Referring to the proposal for a high-speed rail link between Bengaluru and Pune, Somanna said the demand was well justified and efforts would be made to take the project forward, as it would connect the country’s IT capital with its financial capital.On their way to Channapatna, Somanna and Patil inspected the ongoing works of the railway under-bridge (RuB) at Ramohalli near Kumbalagodu on the outskirts of Bengaluru and issued necessary directions to the officials. The two ministers advised them to ensure proper arrangements to prevent rainwater from accumulating and to complete the project at the earliest.Published on June 29, 2026