BENGALURU: The four corridors of the 148km Bengaluru suburban rail project are likely to be called by Kannada names of flowers: Sampige, Mallige, Parijaata and Kanaka.
According to sources, Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (K-RIDE), a JV between the railway ministry and the state government, executing the project decided to name it as Sa-M-Par-Ka (connectivity).
KSR Bengaluru City-Yelahanka-Devanahalli corridor will be named after Sampige. Others are: Mallige (Byappanahalli-Yeshwantpur-Chikkabanavara), Parijaata (Kengeri-Cantonment-Whitefield) and Kanaka (Heelalige-Yelahanka-Rajanukunte). However, work on Mallige and Kanaka are likely to be taken up first.
In contrast, Namma Metro corridors are named after colours: Purple, Green, Yellow, Pink and Light Blue.
The 148-Km Bengaluru suburban rail project (BSRP) with four corridors and 57 stations costing Rs 15,767 crore is expected to be completed in six years.
Suburban trains will have air conditioned Metro-like coaches. Officials said BSRP's 57 new stations will function as integrated commercial hubs where people can work, park, shop, eat and trade. It is expected to have more than 10 lakh daily commuters.
“ Passengers will be able to interchange with other modes of transport like India railways and local metro network from more than 60% of its stations, ” said an official.
BRSP smart stations will be multi-storeyed with facilities like shopping and retail activities, plug and play work spaces, park and travel, hospitality and convention spaces.
The project was cleared by the Centre in October 2020 but no formal announcement was made due to the model code of conduct. Sources say the state government wants the foundation stone to be laid before the BBMP elections and to operationalize a small section of one of the four corridors before the 2023 assembly polls.