Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has urged the Union Government to approve the proposed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Mysuru and Bengaluru, stating that the project would play a key role in the growth of the State’s cultural capital.

During his visit yesterday to New Delhi for high-level meetings, including a NITI Aayog session, Shivakumar met Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and sought clearance for the Mysuru-Bengaluru RRTS corridor.

He also requested approval for similar RRTS links connecting Bengaluru with Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur and Kolar.

The Chief Minister said the project would require major improvements to the existing railway infrastructure between Mysuru and Bengaluru.

“Mysuru’s development must be given priority. An RRTS corridor will require increased track capacity and modernisation of the existing system,” he said.

Officials pointed out that the existing railway line would need extensive upgrades, including easing sharp curves and strengthening infrastructure, to support high-speed trains.

The Regional Rapid Transit System is designed for speeds of up to 180 kmph, similar to the operational corridor between Delhi and Meerut.

An upgraded Mysuru-Bengaluru corridor, officials said, would significantly improve connectivity, reduce travel time and support economic growth along the region’s fastest-growing urban belt.

At present, trains on the Mysuru-Bengaluru route are capable of operating at a maximum speed of 110 kmph. If the RRTS system is introduced, the existing railway infrastructure will have to be upgraded and redesigned to support speeds of up to 180 kmph. Strengthening and modernising the track between the two cities will be essential for the project.

— Girish Dharmaraj Kalagonda, Divisional Railway Commercial Manager, Mysuru.