Draft report on commuter rail submitted to government

If all goes as per DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport) plan, Bangaloreans will soon have rail facility to different destinations in districts like Mandya, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkur and Bangalore Rural.

A draft report on implementation of commuter rail system (CRS) in Bangalore, submitted by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) limited to DULT recently, proposes to run trains to these destinations with a speed of 70 km to 100 km per hour, apart from providing connectivity to commuters within the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike limits.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, DULT Commissioner V Manjula confirmed that the directorate has received the report on CRS. “We are going through the report and meetings will be held with stakeholders South Western Railway, the BBMP, BMRDA and other planning authorities.

After accommodating suggestions, the report will be finalised and sent to the high- powered committee for approval, she added.

A copy of the draft report on CRS, available with Deccan Herald, outlines the importance of commuter rail to provide faster and frequent connectivity to suburban areas and neighbouring districts, which are developing fast.

 The idea of CRS is also to ease pressure on main hub Bangalore. Namma Metro, mono rail, high-speed rail to BIAL, rejuvenated BMTC services, etc, cannot really provide this type of solution, the report said. To serve more people, more stations need to be built.

For every such station, platforms, ticketing counters, parking space, commercial space, etc, are required. Land is also required to develop feeder roads to new stations.

Available railway land shall be used for commuter rail projects and the same shall continue to be Indian Railways’ property. Land belonging to the State government shall also be handed over to Railways free of cost, report added.