Bengaluru: In a major boost to railway infrastructure in Karnataka, Indian Railways has sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Bengaluru–Tumakuru section of South Western Railway.
The project involves converting the existing 1×25 kV electric traction system into a more powerful 2×25 kV system across 120 Track Kilometres (TKM), at an estimated cost of ₹162.57 crore.
The Bengaluru–Tumakuru route is part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-10, connecting major economic and industrial hubs along the Pune–Hubballi–Chikjajur–Birur–Tumakuru–Bengaluru–Salem–Kanniyakumari corridor.
The upgraded traction system is expected to improve power supply reliability, allowing the route to handle increased passenger and freight traffic more efficiently. It will also support the operation of heavier freight trains and longer passenger services.
The project is aimed at reducing congestion on one of the busiest railway corridors serving Bengaluru and surrounding districts, while ensuring smoother train operations across Karnataka and southern India.
The move is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernise electrical infrastructure, enhance network capacity and improve efficiency on high-density routes.
