Budget 2025: K’taka rail projects get Rs 7,564 cr, no allocation for sub-urban rail rolling stock
Bengaluru: The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated ₹7,564 crore for railway projects in Karnataka, marking a marginal increase from last year’s ₹7,559 crore. The budgetary provisions include funding for 15 railway projects which aim at enhancing intra-state and inter-state connectivity.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Indian Railways has been allocated ₹2.55 lakh crore for 2025-26, compared to ₹2.62 lakh crore last year.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna stated that ₹350 crore has been sanctioned for the Bengaluru suburban railway project, the same as the previous year. However, there has been no allocation for suburban rail rolling stock, raising concerns among commuters and activists.
The railway budget earmarks ₹1,16,500 crore for railway safety measures and ₹12,000 crore for passenger amenities, including the modernization of railway stations across the country. Somanna assured that the funds allocated to Karnataka would be used to expedite long-pending railway projects.
Key railway line projects in Karnataka and their allocated funds include:
Gadag-Wadi: ₹549.45 crore
Tumkur-Chitradurga-Davangere: ₹549.45 crore
Rayadurg-Tumkur via Kalyandurg: ₹434.85 crore
Bagalkot-Kudachi: ₹428.1 crore
Hosapete-Hubballi-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama: ₹413.73 crore
Hotgi-Kudgi-Gadag: ₹401.15 crore
Bengaluru-Whitefield-KR Puram quadrupling: ₹357.6 crore
Pune-Miraj-Londa: ₹312.9 crore
Bayappanahalli-Hosur: ₹223.5 crore
Munirabad-Mahabubnagar: ₹214.05 crore
Yeshwantpur-Channasandra: ₹178.8 crore
Toranagallu-Ranjitpura: ₹104.47 crore
Daund-Kalaburagi doubling & Pune-Guntakal electrification: ₹84.39 crore
Kadur-Chikmagalur-Sakleshpura: ₹78.4 crore
Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur: ₹64.05 crore
As per a ‘X’ post by Journalist Christin Mathew Philip, Karnataka had sought ₹3,414 crore for the Bengaluru suburban railway, including ₹859 crore from the Railway Board and ₹1,982 crore from foreign funding agencies (KfW/EIB), however the Union Budget has allocated only ₹350 crore.
Meanwhile, the absence of funds for suburban rail rolling stock has drawn flak from social media users.
A social media user questioned the sufficiency of ₹350 crore for the project, while another user criticized the government for providing “small sums that won’t help anything.”
Another user @LakshmeeshaCS wrote, “this clearly states that there is no encouragement for Karnataka even after being the 2nd highest #GST earner.”
For Bengaluru suburban rail:
— ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_) February 2, 2025
Total ₹3,414 crore sought:
- ₹859 crore from railway board
- ₹1,982 crore from funding agencies (KfW/EIB)
In Union Budget, only ₹350 crore out of the ₹859 crore has been allocated
No funds have been allocated for rolling stock either https://t.co/axUgaXs3ey pic.twitter.com/AqLyUyL6kf
Karnataka approved ₹2,135 crore (50% state share) for 306 train coaches for Bengaluru suburban rly in Nov 24
— ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_) December 31, 2024
Total rolling stock cost at ₹4,300 cr
Union Railway Ministry's nod for remaining 50% share is awaited
Rolling stock delivery may take 2 yrs post-tender. Pls help 🙏 https://t.co/0bNsrnxAwP
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
