Passengers using Krishna Raja Puram (KR Puram) railway station can smile now. With encroachments near the station removed, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is planning to construct bays for autorickshaws and taxis for the convenience of rail passengers.
The South-Western Railways, on its part, can extend the platform and set up a more accessible ticketing and enquiry counters as in the Bangalore City station.
Sudhanshu Mani, division railway manager, South Western Railways, said the BDA was planning to develop part of the area for autorickshaw and taxi bays. “Railways will build the ticketing counter, enquiry counters and also extend the platform entry to this part of the acquired land,” said Mani.
Railways is planning to build a foot over-bridge right from the road to enter the platforms.
However, the state government is yet to approve the plan. “The BDA has approved of it. Now the state government has to give its green signal,” said Mani while flagging off Rajya Rani Express from Bangalore to Mysore at City station on Friday morning.
The train will facilitate 1,264 passengers travelling between Bangalore and Mysore.
“The modernisation of City railway station is linked with the previous requests. We are ready with the plan. If we are given the land, we can start the process,” he added.
Besides the Bangalore-Mysore train that was flagged off, six new trains from Bangalore were also introduced on Friday. Three DEMU services i.e Kolar-Bangalore Cantt-Kolar Marikuppam-Bangarpet-Marikuppam and Kolar-Bangalore-Cantt-Kolar and one MEMU between Bangarpet-Kuppam-Bangarpet. The Mumbai-Magalore train has been made an every day service.
“The newly introduced Bangalore-Dharmapuri-Bangalore DEMU service will cater to the requirements of a large section of lower and middle class sections who have to travel every day to perform meagre jobs to sustain,” said KH Muniyappa, Union minister of state for railways.
“For those below poverty line (BPL), we are giving a two-way ticket for Rs25 (up to a distance of 100 km). Even with the schemes prevalent for the benefit of the people, we are not undergoing any loss,” said Muniyappa.
During the 2010-11 budget, railways had announced the introduction of 271 new train services of which at least 180 trains have been introduced.
“As far as the South Western Railways is concerned, 21 new trains, including increase in frequency and extension of services, have been introduced,” said Muniyappa.
“The chief minister and I had convened a joint meeting with the railway officers and the officers of the state to speed up the on-going projects in the state,” he said.
Muniyappa also inaugurated an emergency medical facility at the main concourse of the City Railway station in association with Narayana Hrudayalaya.
