Karnataka, through Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has formally submitted a proposal to the Union Government seeking approval and funding—estimated at approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore—for five semi-high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors originating from Bengaluru, modeled after the successful Delhi–Meerut “Namo Bharat” project MoneycontrolDeccan Herald.
Proposed Corridors
The five corridors envisioned are:
- Bengaluru–Bidadi–Mysuru
- Bengaluru–Harohalli–Kanakapura
- Bengaluru–Nelamangala–Tumakuru
- Bengaluru–Airport–Chikkaballapur
- Bengaluru–Hoskote–Kolar Moneycontrol
These corridors aim to operate at speeds up to 160 km/h, significantly reducing travel times between Bengaluru and its satellite towns, reducing road congestion, and promoting sustainable urban mobility MoneycontrolDeccan Herald.
Wider Infrastructure Plan
Alongside the RRTS proposal, the plan includes:
- Tunnels to bypass key congested areas (e.g., Hosur Road to Bellary Road; KR Puram to Mysuru Road)
- Elevated corridors along arterial roads like Kanakapura Road
- Expansion of metro network by roughly 128 km through Phase 3 and 3A
- Double-deck elevated roads, such as JP Nagar–Hebbal and Hosahalli–Kadabagere (approx. 40 km), costing an estimated ₹8,916 crore
- A 73 km, eight-lane Peripheral Ring Road (estimated ₹27,000 crore, including land acquisition)
- Waste-processing infrastructure, stormwater buffer roads, and expansion of water supply (Cauvery Phase 6)by adding 500 million litres per day by 2028 Moneycontrol
These projects collectively aim to transform Bengaluru into a truly global city, alleviating chronic urban challenges like congestion, insufficient infrastructure, and environmental stress MoneycontrolDeccan Herald.
Regional Context & Background
Karnataka’s plan draws inspiration from the Delhi–Meerut RRTS, India’s first operational high-speed regional rail, which demonstrated tangible benefits in terms of commuter shift from road to rail, improved productivity, and travel-time reductions MoneycontrolDeccan Herald.
Earlier, NCRTC (National Capital Region Transport Corporation) had proposed four similar corridors emanating from Bengaluru—connecting to Hoskote–Kolar, Mysuru, Tumakuru, and Hosur–Krishnagiri–Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu—but these remained at the proposal stage Moneycontrol.
Summary at a Glance
| Focus Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding Requested | ₹1.5 lakh crore from the Centre for RRTS and related infrastructure |
| Main Corridors Proposed | Five semi-high-speed RRTS routes connecting Bengaluru with key towns |
| Additional Projects | Tunnels, elevated roads, metro expansion, PRR, waste and water solutions |
| Goals | Reduce traffic, promote rapid transit, develop satellite towns, modernize Bengaluru |
