Karnataka: South Western Railway gets Rs 30 crore for rail maintenance shed

BENGALURU: In a boost to the suburban rail project the South Western Railway (SWR), Bengaluru division, has received Rs 30 crore for the expansion of Bananswadi Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) shed.

"Rs 30 crore has reached SWR in September for expansion of the Banaswadi shed. There are already three stabling lines in the shed and with the expansion, we can add more lines to the stabling yard and send more trains for maintenance," said Vijaya, CPRO, SWR.

Hence three of the promises made in the Bengaluru Suburban rail notification have been implemented - the other two being train services between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield and conversion to MEMU rakes.

However, very little has been with regard to crucial steps such as track doubling and electrification. The Railway Ministry has not allocated any funds for doubling of Yeshwanthpur-Hosur line, despite repeated proposals sent by SWR.

"We had sent the proposal twice for allocation in the main and supplementary budgets, for doubling of Yeshwanthpur-Hosur line. Another proposal pending is the doubling of Yeshwanthpur-Hebbal-Banaswadi-Baiyappanhalli line," Vijaya said.

Krishna Prasad, member, Karnataka Railway Vedike, opined, "There would be much faster connectivity and a boost to the suburban rail network once the Yeshwanthpur-Hosur line is doubled. I don't know how they left it out in the previous budgets."

Track doubling would increase train frequency benefit those using station such as Yeshwanthpur, KSR, Cantonment, Bangalore East, Baiyappanahalli, Bellandur, Karmelram, Heelalige, Hebbal and Banaswadi.