Yet to train their sights on Nelamangala rail line

The Nelamangala Railway Station can be considered a classic example of how a public utility, worth crores of rupees, has remained idle for four years. The railway ministry had allocated funds for laying the rail lines and construction of the railway station at Nelamangala. The objective was to provide succour for thousands of commuters who have been struggling to commute between Nelamangala and Bangalore.

The railways had laid the double rail line up to Nelamangala and constructed a station and residential quarters for its staff.  The joy of people from Nelamangala and surrounding areas knew no bounds when the construction work was completed and railways conducted a trial run four years ago. However, their dream of travelling from Nelamangala to Bangalore remained unfulfilled. It will take two more months to get the trains up and running.

“The train service between Nelamangala and Bangalore will be a boon. It will not only reduce the commuting time from two hours to 30 minutes but will also be economically viable. As of now, we have to pay more than Rs30 (to and fro) towards bus fare. We can save Rs20 per day if the railways introduce a train service. For those who are being paid Rs80 or Rs100 per day, saving of Rs20 will be a good thing,’’ said Ramachandra, who works at a garment factory in Bangalore.

Quarters misused
The three buildings constructed to accommodate more than 40 families of railway employees remain idle. With no one to maintain these quarters, some anti-social elements have been misusing them at night. “We find some people indulging in gambling and drinking. There are occasions where we found some sex workers wandering near these quarters,” said S Shivanand, a resident of Nelamangala. The station building has also become a favourite destination for miscreants. Many water taps and door frames are missing. Windows are broken and tracks are full of weeds. “It is quite surprising to see that no security guards were posted at this station. How can the railway authorities become oblivious of this railway station?’’ said Madhusudhan, a resident of Nelamangala.

MV Nagaraju, Nelamangala MLA, said that he wrote three letters to KH Muniyappa, minister of state for railways, to take measures for the inauguration of train service between Nelamangala and Bangalore, but in vain. “I had also reminded Muniyappa about the need to inaugurate the railway station. He had promised to look into the matter but nothing has happened till now,’’ said Nagaraju.
However, the railway authorities have included the train service in the list of train services listed at the City Railway Station. As per the board, the train will depart from Bangalore every day at 4pm. The board also indicates that the train service is yet to be started thus creating confusion among the railway passengers.

Meanwhile, Sudhansu Mani, divisional railway manager, South Western Railway, has said arrangements have been made to introduce a train service. “We are waiting for the green signal from commissioner of railway safety. We will introduce the train service as soon as we receive the safety certificate from the commissioner of railway safety,’’ said Mani. Will the authorities concerned take measures to utilise the railway station constructed with an estimated cost of Rs50 crore and provide relief for people of Nelamangala by introducing a train service to Bangalore? “The railway authorities had taken up some repair works last March to keep the station ready for inauguration but nothing has happened till now,’’ said Parameswarappa, a resident. Is there any solution in sight for the five-year-old issue? The ball is in railway authorities’ court.