The railways should explain why they have shifted the Kannur Express terminal from Yeshwanthpur to Banaswadi and how it is expected to benefit the thousands of commuters, who use this train. Around 800 to 1,000 passengers, who boarded this 21-coach train at Yeshwanthpur , will now have to travel a longer distance to the Banaswadi station, located in an isolated place, to board it.
Over the last 10 years, we have been asking the railways to develop new railway terminals to help decongest the city and Yeshwanthpur stations. But due to a lack of vision , the railways never gave importance to developing terminals at Jnana Bharati, Yelahanaka, Devanahalli and Whitefield and this has resulted in congestion at the existing two terminals. It has also led to this ad hoc decision to shift the terminal of the Kannur Express from Yeshwanthpur to Banaswadi.
The railways have adequate land to create an additional terminal facility with platforms, but it hasn’t bothered to. Land is a very costly resource in city limits and the railways need to use it efficiently and effectively for its activities, instead of commercial.
Before deciding to shift the terminal, they should have got feedback from stakeholders like the passengers, traffic police and the BMTC as it would have been better for the Kannur train to start from Chikbanavar or Yelahanka stations, which have the required amenities and make sure it stopped at important stations within city limits.
Even if it was necessary to shift the terminal, it should have been done after ensuring a good public transport system to Banaswadi either with the help of the BMTC or the suburban rail. Improving passenger amenities at Banaswadi station and future connectivity to the third coaching terminal will be a challenge for the railways and the traffic police, which need to work out a solution together.
