New Delhi/ Bengaluru: Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday requested NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal to approve Bengaluru's Suburban Railway Project when it comes up for discussion during the Extended Board Meeting on October 30.

After Mr Surya called on Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to approve the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Airport Lines of the Bengaluru Metro, the Bengaluru South MP stressed that the sanctioning of the Suburban Railway project was crucial in tackling the city's mobility crisis.

“One of the solutions to solve Bengaluru's traffic mess is the Suburban Railway project. The city has been waiting for a suburban network line for more than 3 decades,” Mr Surya told NITI Aayog CEO Kant while seeking his support for the project. Kant assured Surya that he would support the project during the Extended Board Meeting with the Railway Minister.

Later, Mr Surya met Mr Goyal and sought his assistance to get the project cleared. The Railway Minister too promised positive action on the matter during the board meeting.

The Suburban Railway Project was sanctioned at an initial cost of Rs 16,500 crore in February this year. But it ran into hurdles with the Centre requesting K-RIDE, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) designed to implement the project, to submit a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR). “I'm thankful to the Yediyurappa government for approving the revised DPR in August soon after coming to power," Surya said in a statement. "The Railway Ministry subsequently gave its nod for the project in September and the file has been sent for consideration of the NITI Aayog and Ministry of Finance.

“As a victim of Bengaluru's transportation problem, where peak hour traffic slows down to 4 kmph, I considered it my duty to put forth the plight of daily commuters before the NITI Aayog and Minister. I'm glad that they have promised to approve the project in an expedited manner. Bengaluru will soon have a dedicated suburban line up and running.”