Bengaluru: Disruptions, diversions put many a travel plan off track

With PM flagging off three Vande Bharat Express trains on Sunday, the South Western Railway (SWR) brought in elaborate changes at KSR Bengaluru, the busiest station in Karnataka. 

The station’s second entrance (towards Okalipuram) and four platforms (7-10) were shut to the public. 

The SWR initially cancelled six trains, but restored them following a public backlash. 

Some trains had their origin/destination points changed from KSR Bengaluru to Yeshwantpur and Kengeri. Some others were short-terminated/short-originated at alternative stations such as Bengaluru Cantonment, Yeshwantpur, Kengeri and Chikkabanavar. A few trains are starting late. 

While SWR maintained that the changes ensure “minimal disruption to services,” many were unhappy.

Shristi, a student travelling home, said, “I’ve been waiting for my train since 8 am”. Her train to Hindupur was running over three hours late.

“We haven’t gotten any complaint at all,” a police officer on the platform told DH — ironically, just after informing a group of troubled passengers that their train was held up.

A passenger from Hubballi said: “I didn’t know about the diversion. I woke up to find the train here at Yeshwantpur. My friends are stuck at KSR, and I’m waiting for them”. 

Adding to the inconvenience, Yeshwantpur station is undergoing renovation.

Many amenities were unavailable and the lack of functional waiting halls or seating forced passengers to wait either on platforms, in the few available seats, or inside a makeshift waiting hall fashioned from shipping containers.