Binny Mills to be converted into platforms

Binny Mills to be converted into platforms

Deepa Bhasthi | TNN


Bangalore: The city railway station has long been strapped for land and several of its expansion plans have been put on the backburner. And coming to the rescue of the railways is the closed Binny Mills housed on 30 acres of land, which may be converted to railway platforms.
Divisional regional manager Akhil Agrawal told The Times of India that they have written to the state government and the process of acquiring land was under way. “SWR intends to use the land for expansion of the city railway station and include more platforms and amenities for the busy station. The number of platforms we build will depend on how much land we get. We are hopeful that the process will be over soon. Some maintenance units of the railways are also likely to be relocated,” he said.
The Binny Mills land is right next to the railway station and after the closing of the factory over a decade ago, has been lying unused. Though the Railways had been holding informal talks with the government to acquire the land for several months now, SWR has formally written asking for the land only after the government promised to give it.
Officials said the Binny Mills area, owned currently by the state government, can be used for easing the congestion in the city railway station.
The railway station, well past its capacity, caters to an average 80-90 trains every day with 10 platforms.