Union Minister V. Somanna Inspects Rail Wheel Factory, Reviews Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project

Bengaluru: Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, conducted an inspection of the Rail Wheel Factory (RWF) in Yelahanka today, followed by a review meeting on the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project. The review was attended by M.B. Patil, Karnataka’s Minister for Commerce & Industries and Infrastructure, along with senior officials including Rajgopal, General Manager of RWF.

During his visit, Somanna toured the factory’s forging complex, axle machining unit, and wheel casting unit, assessing various initiatives to boost production capacity. He lauded the commissioning of a third Axle Machining Line, which is expected to increase annual axle production by 40,000 units. Addressing the staff, the Minister underscored RWF’s role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, highlighting its successful export of wheels and axles to countries like Mozambique, Sudan, and Malaysia.

Somanna commended the RWF’s ‘zero defect’ manufacturing process, driven by advanced industrial automation, and praised the factory for surpassing production targets set by the Railway Board for 2023-24.

The Minister then reviewed the progress of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, focusing on the Circular Railway Project, which aims to enhance double line connectivity around Bengaluru’s periphery. The project will connect key areas including Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, and Anekal, with Somanna emphasizing the need for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to prioritize densely populated regions.

At a subsequent meeting held at Vidhana Soudha, Somanna and M.B. Patil announced that two segments of the Suburban Railway Project — Chikkabanavara-Baiyyappanahalli (Corridor-2, 25 km) and Heelalige-Rajanukunte (Corridor-4, 46.88 km) — are slated for completion by December 2026. Both ministers urged officials to expedite land acquisition and construction to meet the deadlines and discussed extending the suburban railway network to connect Bengaluru with cities such as Tumkur, Mysore, and Kolar.

Somanna also emphasized the need for seamless coordination between Bengaluru Metro, the Suburban Rail Project, and other authorities to ensure timely integration of the projects. He suggested regular coordination meetings to avoid delays and ensure efficient execution.

The review was attended by senior officials from South Western Railway, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), K-RIDE, BBMP, and other agencies involved in the project. The potential integration of the suburban railway with the proposed Circular Railway around Bengaluru, estimated at ₹21,000 crores, was also discussed.