The Karnataka state cabinet on Friday approved a revised estimate of Rs 16,876 crore for corridors 2 and 4 of the Bengaluru suburban transport project. The decision, taken at Vidhana Soudha under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, clears the way for a renewed push on urban connectivity and mass transit around the city.
Karnataka suburban transport project progresses with revised estimate
Cabinet sources said the approval covers detailed cost revisions for the two corridors and provides administrative sanction to proceed with the next stages of planning and implementation. Officials expect that the upgraded corridors will improve commuter access between Bengaluru and its suburbs, reduce congestion and support economic activity in the metropolitan region.
Alongside the transport approval, the cabinet cleared a number of ancillary and social infrastructure proposals. In Devanahalli taluk, the government agreed to allot a 3,300.16 sq metre civic amenity site within the Bangalore International Airport area development to the Congress Bhavan Trust, Bengaluru, on a 30-year lease for a residential colony.
In the north Karnataka district of Belgaum, the cabinet granted in-principle sanction to construct a new 100-bed taluk public hospital in Gokak at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore. The measure is part of a broader push to strengthen health infrastructure in semi-urban and rural areas.
Urban civic amenity sites under the jurisdictions of six local bodies were also approved for allotment to the Congress Bhavan Trust for the construction of block Congress offices, on a lease basis. In Kalaburagi, the Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority has permitted allocation of a 2,338.91 sq metre civic amenity site for a teachers’ residence, to be offered on concessional terms to the State Secondary School Teachers’ Association and the Kalaburagi district association.
Education sector approvals include administrative sanction for the direct procurement of 41,685 classroom furniture items required by government primary and secondary schools for the 2025-26 academic year. The cabinet authorised purchases through the Karnataka State Financial Institution (KSFIC) for an estimated Rs 8.67 crore and additional items via a short-term tender valued at about Rs 26.67 crore.
On veterinary services, the government approved construction of new buildings for 100 veterinary institutions with the support of a Rs 50 crore NABARD grant, aimed at improving animal health services across the state.
The cabinet also approved a compassionate appointment to a Group C post in the state secretariat for Chetana Mahantesh, daughter of the late IAS officer Mahantesh Biliggi, who died in a recent road accident. The appointment was classified as a special case on humanitarian grounds.
In a notable technology initiative, the state sanctioned the development and deployment of a Karnataka GST Analytics Portal in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad. The project carries an estimated cost of Rs 19 crore and is intended to bolster tax analytics, compliance monitoring and revenue administration.
Officials said the package of approvals reflects the state government’s dual focus on large-scale infrastructure and targeted social services. The transport project in particular is expected to attract further investments and accelerate suburban growth linked to Bengaluru’s broader economic expansion.
Key Takeaways:
- State cabinet approves revised estimate of Rs 16,876 crore for Bengaluru suburban transport corridors.
- Approvals include land allotments, a 100-bed hospital in Gokak and procurement of 41,685 school desks.
- New Karnataka GST Analytics Portal to be developed with IIT Hyderabad for Rs 19 crore.
- Karnataka suburban transport project and related social infrastructure aim to boost regional connectivity and services.
