Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, on Wednesday inspected the Rail Wheel Factory (RWF) in Yelahanka and conducted a review meeting on the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project. The review was held in Bengaluru, alongside M.B. Patil, Minister for Commerce & Industries and Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka. Rajgopal, General Manager, RWF, and other senior officials were present during the inspection and review.
During his visit to RWF, Somanna was briefed on various initiatives undertaken to augment the plant’s capacity. The Minister inspected key units, including the forging complex, axle machining unit, and wheel casting unit. He interacted with the staff, addressing their suggestions and grievances, and reviewed the overall performance of the Rail Wheel Factory. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance production capacity, noting the commissioning of a third Axle Machining Line, which is expected to increase axle production by 40,000 units annually.
In his address to the press, Somanna emphasized RWF’s significant contribution to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. RWF has successfully exported wheels and axles to countries like Mozambique, Sudan, and Malaysia, under the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ initiative. The Minister praised RWF’s ‘zero defect’ manufacturing process, which is largely driven by advanced industrial automation. He also commended RWF for surpassing the production targets set by the Railway Board for the year 2023-24.
Somanna also reviewed the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, with a particular focus on the Circular Railway Project, which aims to provide double line railway connectivity around the periphery of Bengaluru. The project is expected to connect areas such as Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, Anekal, Hejjala, Solur, and Nidavanda. The Minister directed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) should prioritize connecting densely populated areas to ensure affordable and accessible railway connectivity for the common people.
At a separate review meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha, Somanna, alongside M.B. Patil, announced that the Chikkabanavara-Baiyyappanahalli (Corridor-2, 25 km) and Heelalige-Rajanukunte (Corridor-4, 46.88 km) segments of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project will be completed and dedicated to the nation by December 2026. Both ministers emphasized the need for expedited land acquisition and urged officials to accelerate work on these corridors to meet the deadlines. They also discussed the potential for extending the suburban railway to connect Bengaluru with neighbouring cities such as Tumkur, Mysore, Magadi, Gouribidanur, and Kolar.
Somanna stressed the importance of coordination among Bengaluru Metro, the Suburban Rail Project, and other relevant authorities. He recommended regular coordination meetings to ensure seamless integration and avoid delays. The meeting also explored the possibility of integrating the suburban railway with the proposed Circular Railway around Bengaluru, which has been approved by the Railway Board at an estimated cost of ₹21,000 crores.
The review meeting was attended by senior officials including Arvind Srivastava, General Manager, South Western Railway; Yogesh Mohan, Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru; Maheshwar Rao, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL); Manjula, Managing Director, K-RIDE; Tushar Girinath, Chief Commissioner, BBMP; and other senior officers.
