Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent PRAGATI meeting reviewed two mega projects in Opposition-ruled states, Karnataka and Telangana, that have been delayed for many years with big cost escalations. PM Modi has asked the states for quick progress in these projects.
At the meeting held on December 31, 2025, the PM reviewed Bangalore Suburban Railway Project and the J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana, as per details accessed by CNN-NEWS18.
The Bangalore Suburban Railway Project has been on the discussion table for four decades. It was finally sanctioned in 2020 and was aimed for completion in 2023 but is still far from complete.
This project would have ensured connectivity from the city to Bengaluru Airport – a major pain
point for Bengaluru people. The project spans nearly 148 km across four corridors linking the city, suburbs, and the airport.
The cost of this project has gone up by nearly Rs 1,020 crore – from Rs 15,767 crore to Rs 16,876 crore. PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of this project in 2023 with a 40-month deadline for completion. This project is expected to cater to 10 lakh people daily.
The J Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme in Telangana was conceived in 2001 under the then-chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu of undivided Andhra Pradesh. The project will irrigate 5.57 lakh acres across Warangal, Karimnagar, and Nalgonda districts in Telangana. It is the second biggest project of its kind in Asia. This project is aimed for completion by 2027.
