Government urged to run suburban train to Whitefield under Phase 1

Members of Whitefield Area Commerce and Industries Association (WACIA) have urged the government to take up suburban railway connectivity from Banavara to Whitefield, via Yeshwantpur and Krishnarajapuram under Phase 1.

They said this would enable carrying the regular workforce from North-West to the Eastern part of the city including Whitefield.

The association demanded at the ‘CEO Conclave 2017’, that a committee comprising Bescom, BMRCL, BBMP, KIADB officials and traffic police be formed to oversee the progress of Metro Phase II works from Baiyappanhalli to Whitefield.

They also urged the authorities to set up a Whitefield Area Development Authority, to look into the implementation of the government’s civic schemes and focus on improving ‘Safe City’ measures. Also, they urged the government to set up mini bus terminals at vantage points of the city to ease traffic. “If mini bus terminals are set up at Mehkri Circle, Krishnarajapuram, Jayanagar and Vijayanagar, those bound for the airport, can avoid taking cabs, which are the main reason for traffic congestion on airport road,” said S Pandu Rao, chairman of WACIA Vision Group.

Mahendra Jain, additional chief secretary, said the state and the Centre would contribute 20% each for the suburban rail project and the rest would be borrowed from banks. “An MoU has been signed,” he said.

He said work on the peripheral ring road was in progress and will be completed on priority. This, he said would decongest the city to a great extent, as heavy inter-city vehicles would be diverted to the ring road.