Rlys' passenger-friendly plan on track

2010 Looking Back

The Bangalore division of the South Western Railways has tried to ease the rush of passengers at unreserved ticketing counters at the City Railway Station by shifting reserved ticket counters to the first floor and leaving the entire ground floor for issuing unreserved tickets.

Several counters have also been opened for purchasing unreserved tickets at reservation centres across the city.

At the City Railway Station, a road is being built for better access at the Okalipuram entrance. Once constructed, even buses can pass though this road.Meanwhile, the Railways has sought a couple of acres at the Binny Mills adjoining the station for expansion, but the State government is yet to take a decision on it.

Improving facilities at the Yeshwantpur Station too is in the offing. Divisional railway manager Sudhanshu Mani recently announced plans to widen the road at the main entrance to the station on Tumkur Road, and also provide better parking facilities. New ticket counters, LCD reservation screens, a business lounge with internet connection, a new foot overbridge connecting platforms three and six, and construction of a modern food plaza by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd are on the anvil.
Mani said all the projects would be completed within nine months.

Plans for a world-class station at Byappanahalli are facing teething problems as the Railways has not been able to get enough land. Out of the required 180 acres, only about 90 acres are in the Railways’ possession. The rest is under litigation with no signs of a settlement in sight. So, the entire plan for the station is being reworked for the 90 acres available with them.

Momentum has been gathering for a commuter rail system for Bangalore and its suburbs.
With the officials also expressing cautious interest in the proposal, efforts are on to push for it in the railway budget coming up in February.