Bengaluru’s Congestion Worsens as Officials Push Vande Bharat and Konkan Doubling
Updated (4 articles)
Escalating Vehicle Registrations Fuel Gridlock By April 2025 Karnataka recorded 1.23 crore vehicle registrations, up from about one crore in 2020‑21, intensifying road pressure and helping Bengaluru rank second‑most congested worldwide in TomTom’s 2025 Traffic Index [1].
Public Transit Struggles to Match Demand The BMTC operates 7,067 buses serving 4.8 million daily riders, yet fleet shrinkage and mixed‑traffic speeds limit effectiveness; metro extensions added 2.5‑3 lakh boardings on the Purple Line and 60,000 on the Yellow Line, but still fall short of demand, while the suburban rail project slips from an October 2026 target to 2030 [1].
Road Violations Exacerbate Safety Concerns 2025 enforcement data show helmet‑less riding as the top violation and East Bengaluru logged 38,000 drunk‑driving cases, underscoring enforcement gaps amid worsening congestion [1].
Rail Leaders Propose Faster Coastal Connections MP Kota Srinivas Poojary met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to press for a Vande Bharat Express linking Bengaluru with Mangaluru and Udupi, citing over 600 daily buses and hundreds of private vehicles on the route as evidence of strong passenger demand [2].
Konkan Railway Doubling Urged to Unlock Growth Poojary urged an immediate survey, funding allocation, and double‑tracking of the 734 km single‑track Konkan Railway from Roha to Thokur, arguing the bottleneck restricts passenger amenities and regional development on Karnataka’s west coast [2].
Sources
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1.
The Hindu: Bengaluru’s Gridlock Deepens as Congestion, Infrastructure Gaps Persist: Details Bengaluru’s rising vehicle registrations, bus fleet size, metro extensions, delayed suburban rail, and spike in traffic violations, highlighting chronic mobility failures .
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2.
The Hindu: MP Poojary urges Vande Bharat Express and Konkan Railway doubling: Reports MP Poojary’s meeting with the Railway Minister, his push for a Vande Bharat Express to the coast, completion of electrification on the Hassan–Mangaluru line, and a call to double the Konkan Railway to spur coastal development .
Timeline
2023 – The Purple Line extension reaches Whitefield, adding 2.5‑3 lakh daily boardings and boosting metro ridership in Bengaluru’s tech corridor [1].
April 2025 – Karnataka vehicle registrations climb to 1.23 crore, up from about one crore in 2020‑21, intensifying road congestion across the state [1].
August 2025 – The Yellow Line opens to Electronics City, drawing roughly 60,000 daily users and expanding rapid‑transit coverage in Bengaluru [1].
December 20‑21 2025 – The Bhopal Metro inaugurates a 6.22‑km Orange Line stretch; commercial service begins on December 21 with an expected 3,000 daily passengers, and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar declares India will soon overtake the United States with about 1,090 km of metro network [4].
2025 (TomTom Traffic Index) – Bengaluru ranks as the world’s second‑most congested city, underscoring chronic mobility failures in India’s tech hub [1].
2025 – The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation runs 7,067 buses for 4.8 million daily riders, yet faces a shrinking fleet, mixed‑traffic speeds and a lack of dedicated bus lanes [1].
2025 – Traffic violations surge, with helmet‑less riding topping offenses and East Bengaluru recording 38,000 drunk‑driving cases, highlighting enforcement gaps [1].
Mid‑January 2026 (expected) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the Kolkata‑Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper Train; operations begin within two‑to‑three weeks, offering 3rd AC fares of ₹2,300 and 1st AC fares of ₹3,600, positioned as a cheaper alternative to air travel [3].
February 2026 – MP Kota Srinivas Poojary meets Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi, urging a Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Karnataka’s coastal cities and calling for an immediate survey and funding to double the 734 km Konkan Railway single‑track corridor [2].
February 2026 – Completion of electrification on the Hassan–Mangaluru line clears the path for electric‑locomotive services, including the proposed Vande Bharat Express, on the coastal route [2].
February 2026 – Poojary notes that more than 600 buses and hundreds of private vehicles travel daily between the coast and Bengaluru, underscoring strong passenger demand for faster rail connectivity [2].
2027 (planned) – The Outer Ring Road (ORR) corridor metro service is slated to commence, extending rapid transit beyond Bengaluru’s current network [1].
2030 (target) – The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project pushes its opening to 2030, delaying the 148 km, 58‑station network intended to serve 20 lakh commuters [1].
All related articles (4 articles)
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The Hindu: Bengaluru’s Gridlock Deepens as Congestion, Infrastructure Gaps Persist
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The Hindu: MP Poojary urges Vande Bharat Express and Konkan Railway doubling
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The Hindu: Modi to launch Kolkata-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
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The Hindu: Bhopal Metro inaugurated; Orange Line to begin commercial services on December 21