Rail users' plan for better station

Rail users' plan for better station

Proposal to buy nearby property to gain space for expansion awaits green signal

Bosky Khanna. Bangalore



Over 1.5 lakh passengers use the City Railway Station and about 150 trains depart from there every day.
Concerned over this passenger rush, members of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) have placed a proposal before the South Western Railway (SWR) to expand the station by purchasing the properties adjacent to it.
Prakash Mandoth, ZRUCC member and co-chairman of the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tourism and Infrastructure Committee, said the 20-acre land of Binny Mills and 110-metre property belonging to casting area yard of L&T could be purchased to get more space for expansion. The land of Binny Mills is located only 20 metres from the railway station.
"Since these properties remain unused, the state government and SWR can purchase them. Maps and documents have been submitted to SWR and the decision is awaited," Mandoth said.
Last year, a 12-member Chinese railway team had visited the Byapanahalli station to study an expansion plan there. The railway authorities have not responded to the upgradation plan so far.
"Like the Byapanahalli station, the city station too should be expanded due to its ideal location and easy connectivity,'' he said.
The proposal awaits clearance from the Railway Infrastructure Development Board.
At present, the city station has 10 platforms, three maintenance pits and one washing yard. After expansion, the station can have four additional platforms, a separate yard and inter-connectivity grids. It will also have space to accommodate more trains, according to the proposal. The proposal was placed before SWR officials on March 19 at the ZURCC meeting in Hubli.
Once the station is expanded, the third entrance to the station can be made through Magadi Road, which will lessen the passenger pressure at Majestic and Okhalipuram entrances.
Further, the station can be upgraded into a modern station with world class facilities as proposed for Byapanahalli station.
The need to expand the city station is essential as construction work for the underground Metro Rail terminal will begin shortly.
A Traffic Transit Management Centre for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will be constructed soon. Thus, the upgradation of the railway station will help in managing the passenger and vehicular rush. While the city station will become a primary mode of commuting, Byapanahalli will be the second important terminal, according to traffic expert, who did not want to be named.
A senior railway official, on condition of anonymity said, a feasibility study was yet to be conducted. There had been no communication so far from the Central Railway Board on the proposal for the station expansion.
The projects will have to wait until the elections are over.