2007 proposal

2010 proposal

2012 proposal

Integrated multi-modal transport and last mile connectivity

Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Bangalore provides a roadmap for integrated public transport experience.^[14]

Bengaluru suburban rail stations will be integrated with other modes of transport for seamless transfer between travel modes - as in European cities. Public Bus Service, Metro trains, Inter-city bus, Inter-city trains, Metrolite, Metro Neo, Hyperloop, BRTS, Peripheral Ring Road, Bus priority corridors, Airport metro, Airport Bus service, High speed Airport Train will be integrated with the Suburban train network.

Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) and the Shared Micro-Mobility System initiatives have been launched to provide last mile connectivity to suburban rail stations.^[15]

K-RIDE plans to evolve all 57 stations to integrated commercial hubs (smart station hubs) where people can work, park, shop, eat and trade. Approaches to suburban train stations will be provided from all directions.^[16]

The suburban train station plan will not only focus on the development of modern station itself, but also on traffic circulation and road improvement plan, easy switch to other public transport, widening of approach roads, ramp based multi-level access as in the New Delhi Railway station re-development model.^[17][18]

Existing services

Indian Railways currently operates MEMU and DEMU services.

1. Indian Railway's South Western Railway zone operates several MEMU and DEMU train services from Bangalore to Hosur, Dharmapuri, Jolarpettai, Tumkur, Marikuppam near Kolar Gold Fields, Bangarapet, Hindupur, Mysore, Kolar, Kuppam and Hassan.^[19]
2. Hosur, Dharmapuri and Jolarpettai are across the state border in Tamil Nadu. Hindupur and Kuppam are across state border in Andhra Pradesh, while Tumakuru, Bangarapete, Mysuru, Marikuppam, Kolar and Hassan are in Karnataka.
3. Service to and from Hassan, Hindupur, Hosur, Dharmapuri and Tumakuru are operated from Yesvantpur Junction, while services to Mysore, Kolar, Marikuppam, Kuppam, Bangarapet and Jolarpettai are from Bangalore City and Bangalore Cantonment.

Though approved in principle by Government of India, budget allocations have been paltry over the last few years as only token amounts have been allocated.^[20][21] On 7 October 2020, the project was approved by Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (headed by the Prime Minister).^[22][23] The State Government commenced providing budgetary support for the suburban rail project & ₹500 crores were allocated in the 2020-21 budget.^[24][25] Meanwhile, K-RIDE^[26] has kick-started the Suburban project by calling tenders for Land Survey, hiring staff etc.^{[27][28][29][30]}

Two priority lines will be taken up first as per Government of Karnataka's advice.^[31] These are Mallige Line and Kanaka Line. The suburban rail routes are named after local flowers.^[32]

As of 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi planned to lay the foundation stone for the start of construction of the project on 20 June.^[33]

Routes and lengths approved initially

^{*The total number of stations is 58 (figures under individual routes include interchange stations).}

Routes and lengths amended (May 2023)

In May 2023, K-Ride released amendments and the following changes were made:

Corridor-1: length amended to 42.522 km; Corridor-1A: a 5.95 km link to the airport has been planned; Corridor-2: extended to Soladevanahalli, length amended to 28.722 km; Corridor-4: length amended to 47.743km.

The total route length for Phase 1 would thus be 160.457 km.

Additional stations:

Corridor-1: (i) Between Airport-KIADB and Devanahalli (near Chikkasanne /IVC road); (ii) Between Judicial Layout and Yelahanka (near Allalasandra).

Corridor-1A: (i) Airport City; (ii) Airport Terminal.

Corridor-4: (i) Between Jakkur and Yelahanka (near Allalasandra); (ii) Between Yelahanka and Muddanahalli (near Nagenahalli); (iii) Between Muddanahalli and Rajanakunte (near Honnenahalli).

^{There will be five inter-change stations at (i) KSR Bengaluru city, (ii) Yesvantapur, (iii) Yelahanka, (iv) Benniganahalli and (v) Airport Trumpet.}

Construction

During November 2021, tenders were called for the elevated viaduct portion of Corridor-2. However, there was a delay in awarding the tender due to land acquisition issues, railway land transfer, approval by IR, formalities etc. Meanwhile, a consortium of Egis, Louis Berger & AECOM JV won bid and were appointed General Consultants in February 2022. The tender for Corridor-2 was awarded to L&T in August 2022 for 8km of elevated viaduct. Construction began in mid-2023 after all hurdles were removed.

Tender for construction of Corridor-4 was awarded to L&T in August 2023.

As of August-2023, tender for Corridor-1 was under preparation.

Depots

Two depots were initially planned at Jnanabharathi (56.9 acres) and near Devanahalli at Akkupete (61.2 acres). Neither of these are on the priority Corridors 2 and 4. Hence, feasibility for a depot at Huskuru along Corridor-4 (Kanaka Line) was being explored.

Subsequently (in January 2023), the depot at Jnanabharathi was cancelled. A depot is planned at Soladevenahalli on 52.2 acres.