<p>The much-delayed railway terminal at Baiyappanahalli is likely to open in April or even later as officials are yet to hear from the prime minister’s office about the inauguration date. </p>.<p>On Sunday morning, Suneet Sharma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board and ex officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India, inspected the Sir M Visvesvaraya terminal in eastern Bengaluru. He praised the South Western Railway for undertaking the work amid the pandemic. </p>.<p>“We have planned for inauguration and it will happen very soon,” Sharma said when asked about the opening. Asked whether the terminal will open only after the assembly elections in various states, he reiterated: “Very soon.” </p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-infrastructure/railway-board-chief-to-inspect-visvesvaraya-terminal-967428.html" target="_blank">Railway board chief to inspect Visvesvaraya terminal</a></strong></p>.<p>In the last two months, railway officials had hoped to open the terminal around March 25. But now, that’s likely to happen in April or even later. “Considering the growing number of Covid cases, the opening may be delayed further,” an official said. Meanwhile, Sharma said that the railways had crossed several milestones in freight carriage. “We are expecting to touch the highest-ever freight loading of Indian railways this year despite Covid, which is an indicative of the fact that the economy is bouncing back,” he stated. </p>.<p>Praising the Bengaluru division’s initiative in loading automobiles, he said that the railways had expanded its freight traffic. “Traditionally, we were carrying iron ore, cement and other materials. This year, we are transporting different streams of traffic,” he explained. </p>
<p>The much-delayed railway terminal at Baiyappanahalli is likely to open in April or even later as officials are yet to hear from the prime minister’s office about the inauguration date. </p>.<p>On Sunday morning, Suneet Sharma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board and ex officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India, inspected the Sir M Visvesvaraya terminal in eastern Bengaluru. He praised the South Western Railway for undertaking the work amid the pandemic. </p>.<p>“We have planned for inauguration and it will happen very soon,” Sharma said when asked about the opening. Asked whether the terminal will open only after the assembly elections in various states, he reiterated: “Very soon.” </p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-infrastructure/railway-board-chief-to-inspect-visvesvaraya-terminal-967428.html" target="_blank">Railway board chief to inspect Visvesvaraya terminal</a></strong></p>.<p>In the last two months, railway officials had hoped to open the terminal around March 25. But now, that’s likely to happen in April or even later. “Considering the growing number of Covid cases, the opening may be delayed further,” an official said. Meanwhile, Sharma said that the railways had crossed several milestones in freight carriage. “We are expecting to touch the highest-ever freight loading of Indian railways this year despite Covid, which is an indicative of the fact that the economy is bouncing back,” he stated. </p>.<p>Praising the Bengaluru division’s initiative in loading automobiles, he said that the railways had expanded its freight traffic. “Traditionally, we were carrying iron ore, cement and other materials. This year, we are transporting different streams of traffic,” he explained. </p>
