MB Patil Slams Centre for Leaving Bengaluru Out of Railway Quadrupling Plan

Bengaluru’s major railway routes have been left out of the central government’s plan to quadruple seven high-density corridors across the country, Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil said on Friday, terming the move a "gross injustice" to the state.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Patil stated that several key routes connecting the city to major destinations should be expanded into four-line corridors to ease both passenger and freight movement. The routes highlighted by the minister include connections from Bengaluru to Pune and Mumbai, Chennai, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi.

To address the issue, Patil said he would urge the Chief Minister to write to the Centre and seek a formal meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to press Karnataka’s demands.

Patil emphasised that Bengaluru requires robust railway infrastructure given its position as the nation's hub for information technology, start-ups, science and technology, semiconductors, electronics, research and development, and foreign investment.

The minister also criticised the proposed high-speed rail links connecting Bengaluru to Chennai and Bengaluru to Hyderabad, pointing out that neither of those alignments would cover even 100 km within the borders of Karnataka.

Patil renewed his demand for a Bengaluru–Hubballi–Pune high-speed corridor and urged Members of Parliament from Karnataka, including those from the BJP, to raise their voices against the alleged discrimination.

Additionally, the minister called for enhanced railway links between Bengaluru and key coastal centres such as Mangaluru, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kundapura, and Karwar. He noted that the lack of adequate railway infrastructure along these routes is placing heavy additional pressure on the state’s highway network.