More rly underpasses likely

More rly underpasses likely
Deccan Herald

Among other ambitious plans for 2006-07, the SWR is planning to introduce Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU), first one in SWR, on the Jolarpet route.

Twelve accident-prone unmanned railway crossings in the City will soon have underpasses. The Railway Board has recently approved the proposal, revealed Mr Mahesh Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railway (Bangalore division) at the 51st Railway Week celebrations on Wednesday.

Among other ambitious plans for 2006-07, the SWR is planning to introduce Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU), first one in SWR, on the Jolarpet route. MEMU is considered ideal for short-distances as it has faster acceleration and deceleration, elaborated Mr Kumar.

Three crossing stations have been commissioned at Ketanhalli (between Bidadi and Ramanagaram), one each on Gowribidanur-Tondebavi and Penukunda-Shakrajpalli routes. “We have 40 trains running on the Mysore route and with Ketahalli station, we can add two more. Similarly, the Dharmavaram route has 46 trains and three more can be added with the creation of a new station,” explained Kumar.

He said the Railway Board had approved speeding up of trains on Bangalore-Dharmavaram route to 110 kmph from the current 100 kmph.

Other plans include introduction of eight video inquiry kiosks of which two have been approved. These additional kiosks will also have ATM facilities.

The goods terminals at Doddaballapur and Whitefield would be upgraded to attract more freight, while a second warehouse would be added.

“The Board has proposals for 23 locations to start warehouses, but only the Bangalore plan has been sanctioned till now,” added the DRM.

Additional DRM Gauri Saxena said the SWR division had recorded a passenger growth of 20 per cent, which, she claimed, was the highest in Indian Railways.