The expectations ahead of the railway budget are high this year though promises made in the previous budgets are yet to be kept. Neither the city has got much funds for infrastructure nor have the new trains begun operations.
That said, planners and commuters hope the budget on February 25 will award the city the much-needed commuter rail system.
However, experts say immediate steps to deal with the stress on the city railway station are also just as important. Delay in the development of a third coaching terminal at Baiyappanahalli, announced by D.V. Sadananda Gowda in 2014, has led to pressure on the City Railway Station which leaves officials with little room to operate new trains.
The city terminal handles upwards of 130 trains and Yesvantpur more than 88 trains.
“If there is no decision on Baiyappanahalli, they should at least look at acquiring more of the Binny Mills land for shifting of works. The time is ripe to start looking at a new fourth terminal as well to handle the rush in the future. There is some land available in Hebbal for this,” said Prakash Mandoth, Chairman, Tourism Committee, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Completion of the automatic signalling project would also aid the easy movement of trains.
“They must also take a decision to stop all premium trains and major trains at stations like Yesvantpur, Malleshwaram, Cantonment, KR Puram and Channasandra as this will provide connectivity to the Outer Ring Road and the east-west corridor,” Mr. Mandoth said.
With the Metro considering an airport link only in Phase III which will take many years to complete, the demand for a rail link to the airport is growing. One suggestion is to locate stations under the current elevated road.
There is a need for a new train between City Railway Station and Mysore which will begin around 5 p.m. from Bengaluru as the 6.15 p.m. Chamundi Express is crowded.
“People are forced to travel in toilets since there are no trains between 3.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m.” said K.N. Krishna Prasad, a retired central government officer and railways expert.
Other trains on the wish list include a superfast train to Mumbai via Hubbali and connectivity to Shivammoga through an overnight train to meet the rush.
In the light of the thousands of people who commute to Electronics City every day, there is a long-standing demand for introduction of Air Conditioned MEMU/DEMU trains which will connect Heelalige station near Bommasandra to the city.
Delayed promises
Trains announced in last budget that have yet to run:
* Bangalore City to Mangalore (daily via Mysore)
* Bangalore City to Chennai Central (daily express)
New trains needed
* Bangalore City-Hubbali via Hosapete, Kottur and Davangere
* Bangalore City- Shivamogga overnight train
* Extension of DEMU service till Channapatna (currently till Ramanagara) and Malur (currently till Bangalore City station).
Infrastructure demand
* A mobile app for SWR on the lines of that created by SCR
* Starting of services at MEMU shed in Banaswadi
* Elevated bypass line to Yesvantpur
* Doubling of Yesvantpur-Banaswadi-Hebbal-Baiyappanahalli-Carmelaram-Hosur line
