The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), sanctioned in 2020 to ease the city's traffic with a 148-km network, has faced significant delays and setbacks. Originally planned for completion by 2026, the project aimed to serve 20 lakh commuters daily with modern trains across four corridors. In August 2025, contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T) unilaterally terminated contracts for Corridors Two and Four, citing inadequate land handover and demanding contract changes, which K-RIDE, the implementing agency, disputed. Despite 84% land acquisition for Corridor Two and partial land for Corridor Four, progress remains slow, with only 18.5% overall completion reported by August 2025. The project suffers from bureaucratic hurdles, diffused accountability between state and central agencies, and leadership instability at K-RIDE. Citizen activists and experts criticize the lack of political urgency and call for a full-time managing director to expedite work. While some preparatory work continues and the South Western Railway emphasizes coordination efforts, the delays have raised concerns about cost escalations and the project's future. The first section from Yeshwantpur to Chikkabanavara is expected to be operational by December 2025, but the overall project timeline remains uncertain. (Updated 29 Aug 2025, 01:04 IST; source: link)