The commuter rail system (CRS) must have been commissioned even before the Namma Metro. However, considering the various studies that have been done over the years, the sluggish attitude of the implementing agencies has resulted in the fact that Bangalore is only still ‘talking’ about commuter rail.
The need for a commuter rail cannot be downplayed in a city like Bangalore, which has over 32 lakh vehicles registered already and another 1,000 vehicles registered every day even as it grapples with issues like traffic jams, pollution and various mental and physical health problems.
Building more flyovers and underpasses, or widening the roads isn’t solving the issue.
The traffic data of the metropolitan region of Bangalore justifies the launch of a CRS.
An added advantage of the CRS is that it will help disperse people from the densely populated central business district of the city. CRS will also be able to seamlessly integrate with mass rapid transit systems like the Metro, high-speed rail and so on.
Bangalore city has a fairly good rail network and a potential for introducing commuter rail services, when compared to Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi but this has not been tapped.
Here, suburban trains can run on existing railways lines, thus eliminating the problems facing infrastructure projects like land acquisition and massive funds required for creating new infrastructure.
Two suburban trains were introduced between Bangalore to Anekal and Yeshwantpur to Devanahalli after great struggle and persuasion by IT companies, but the timings are not commuter-friendly.
Many cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkatta, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow & Kanpur have suburban networks to cater to the travelling needs of the commuters.
Interestingly, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow and Kanpur do not have dedicated suburban networks (like Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkatta) but share tracks with regular trains (intercity & long distance trains).
Chennai’s mass rapid transport system (MRTS) has a dedicated track, most of which is elevated.
CRS will facilitate development of Bangalore and also the neighbouring areas like Chickballapur, Kolar, Bangarpet, Kuppam, Mandya, Ramnagar, Kengeri, Hosur, Nelmangla, Devana Halli (30-90 km).
