JOIN USUnion Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said on Sunday that he would hold talks with the Union urban development minister over introducing Mumbai-like local trains in the City.
He was speaking after flagging off two new trains from Yeshwantpur to Jaipur and Bikaner.
“We already have railway lines between the City and Mysuru, KR Puram, Tumakuru and Yelahanka stations. If these lines are doubled and electrified, cost-effective local trains can be started with minimal land acquisition.”
Soon Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan and State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy will hold a meeting with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in this regard, he said.
“The Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has analysed the pros and cons of the circular rail. But the project is cost intensive as it requires land acquisition. Doubling of the existing tracks under commuter rail with automatic signals would thus be a better option. It is feasible to have local railway stations within the City.
So, prominence would be given to commuter rail,” he said. Of the two new trains inaugurated, the weekly train (22695/22696) will depart from Yeshwantpur every Thursday at 11.30 am and reach Jaipur at 6.35 am every Saturday, covering a distance of 2,450 km in 43 hours and will have limited stops at stations such as Yadgir, Kalaburagi, Pune, Vadodara and Ajmer.
The direct bi-weekly express train (16587/16588) with 18 coaches will leave Yeshwantpur at 5 am on Sundays and Fridays and reach Bikaner at 7.10 am on Tuesdays and Sundays respectively. The train, covering a distance of 2,545 km in 50 hours, will stop at 18 stations.