Suburban rail: Just a promise or a reality?

Bengaluru: The city’s  demand for a suburban rail has not been met for over 10 years, but  Bengaluru Development minister,  K J George promises it is on its way now.

Phase 1  costing Rs 10,000 crore  is expected to cover  three corridors - Bengaluru-Tumkur, Bengaluru-Bangarpet and Bengaluru-Mandya.  Phase II will cover the Bengaluru-Hosur, Bengaluru-Chikkbalapur and Bengaluru-Nelamangala corridors and the third will see a suburban rail running on the Bengaluru- Doddaballapur stretch as well as the missing links.

But civic activists are not convinced the project will make the promised progress even now. The response to a RTI application  filed by Mr Sanjeev Dyamannavar, member of Praja RAAG, an advocacy group, reveals that the railway board has not yet received any information from the state government on the project cost.  “We are happy that that the minister has given an assurance on the suburban rail . But we want action.  The government needs to agree in principle, give things in writing and the railways need to sign an MOU. Why can’t both the state government and the railways sit and decide these things face to face?” he asks.

The state government had in October 2013 sent a proposal to the railway board for the suburban rail and the board had  in turn asked for inputs from the South Western Railway,  Hubballi, which cleared the project in March 2014. But there has been no progress since.

Activists point out that the suburban rail could take the pressure off the roads and allow Bengalureans to commute in ease on a train from the city to not too distant destinations like Whitefield, Tumkur and Ramnagara, with stopovers at suburbs like Yelahanka and Kengeri.

While the existing tracks can be used for the project, its supporters say 58per cent of the total investment will go towards upgrading railway infrastructure and for doubling the tracks, which in turn will help the Indian Railways  run more intercity and goods trains.

State tells Centre it will make up the shortfall
Having received the go-ahead fora suburban train for  Bengaluru from Union Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu, the state government has now upped the pressure and sent a proposal to the Centre for the first phase of the project.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Minister for Bengaluru Development, K.J. George said the state had requested the Centre to expedite the first phase of the suburban railway project and also intended to approach the Union Railway minister with a list of other pending projects before he presents the railway budget.

“We are ready to take up the project under a cost sharing basis with the Centre. The Union Railway minister has also suggested the creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to take the project forward,” he added. The first phase will cover Mandya to Kengeri, Tumakuru to Yeshwantapura and Whitefield to Byappanahalli at a cost of Rs 9000 crore,  according to him.

LED streetlights
The minister revealed he had discussed a proposal by the Malaysian company, UDA Holdings Berhad to install LED streetlights in Bengaluru with Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy and Deputy Mayor, Hemalatha Gopalaiah. “I have asked the company to give a detailed presentation before state government officials. If it works in favour of BBMP, the government will give permission to the company to install LED streetlights,” the minister said.