Bengaluru: Since the doubling of Mysuru-Bengaluru railway lines, trains are saving at least 20-30 minutes of time and passengers are an elated lot. But due to saturation of the city railway station, no new trains are being introduced. Now experts feel it is time to extend the scope of city railway stations or develop a third railway terminal.
Mukunda Namagondlu, an activist and former leader from Loksatta Party, said, “Is it possible to expand the city station vertically? Is it technically feasible and financially viable? Experts need to answer this question. A long-term plan spread over the next 10 years should be drawn up to connect all the district headquarters and the State capital by a double track railway line and to connect all the taluk headquarters with the respective district headquarters with a single track railway line. This, in addition to relieving the road network of traffic, will provide safer and more affordable connectivity throughout the state.”
He adds, “Once this network is up and running if the railways are not ready to run trains interconnecting all these places, the State government should form a separate company to run trains on this network. Anyway the State will share the cost and in return should get the right to run this network.”
Sanjeev V Dyamannavar, member of Praja RAAG says, “This issue was known to the railway official seven years ago and they took it very lightly, assuming that commuter rail would bring Binny Mill land free of cost. Also they thought the railway minister will allocate funds for the third terminal at Byapannahalli, unfortunate that only pit lines were built. So now the city suffers on account of good rail connectivity between Mysore and Bangalore. There are very few trains to Mysore whereas the demand is very high.”
A source close to the railways says, “As of now, there is no plan to extend the city railway station or focus on developing a third terminal.”
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