Commuter / Local Trains for Bangalore from March

Politicians make promises on rail connectivity in the city

With elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) round the corner, leaders of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party utilised a function organised to inaugurate the newly built flyover across railway level crossing at Wheeler Road-Cox Town junction here on Tuesday to make promises on rail connectivity

First a request by Member of Parliament (Bangalore South) H.N. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister of State for Railways K.H Muniyappa  to start Local Trains on the existing tarcks in four direction : to Nelamangala, Ramanagar, Whitefiled, Devanahalli & further automating the singnals with electric lines & having station at every 2 KMs.

In response to a request  of MP H N annth Kumar by MoS K H Muniyappa : he was prepared to take up the issue if the State Government came out with an assurance to give land for the project besides sharing 50 per cent of the project cost.

K H Muniyapap's assurencs : “I am confident of being able to convince Union Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee to provide circular rail system for Bangalore if the State Government comes forward to invest in the project.”

Now the response of Chief Minister to MoS K H Muniyappa, even though Yeddyurappa  had completed his speach earlier.

Mr. Muniyappa’s response forced Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to address the gathering for the second time as he had already finished his speech.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that he would immediately write a letter to Ms. Banerjee making a proposal in this regard and said that the State Government was prepared to provide 50 per cent of the project cost. “Somehow, we will arrange money if the Union Government is ready to take up the project,” the Chief Minister said.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/03/stories/2010030359840300.htm

BBMP elctions is real  advantag to Bangalore to get the Local Trains as Congress K H Muniyappa & BJP Ananth Kumr & CM Yeddyurapp  are foced to put the CRS project in action. Now its for us to push further thru RTI, Follow up meeting with concerned dept : IDD, BMLTA, SWR, Chief Secretary of Karnataka & Railway Minsiter.

Here you can see the mis-match  : MoS K H muniyappa talking about circular rail and Chief Minister i/ State wants Local Trains for Bangalore city & Suburbs similar to Mumbai Local Trains .

With a view to decongesting busy areas of Bangalore and to help commuters on the outskirts, the Railway Ministry is taking up the circular railway linking Ramanagaram, Magadi, Doddaballapura, Krishnaraja Puram, Hoskote, Anekal and Yeshwanthpur.

Union Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said that the State Government had already given its nod for linking outer towns, easing traffic and congestion. He said Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had promised Rs. 500 crore for the project.

 http://www.thehindu.com/2010/03/25/stories/2010032557720600.htm

Now we will both of them going in different directions and once again we Bangalore citizens keep on suffering from Traffic Problem and it looks we are enjoying the pain.

Shri K H Muniyappa is not keeping his promise of starting Local Train between Yesvanthpur to Anekal and Bangalore city to Devanahalli. 

I think Shir K H Muniyappa wants waste another 6-12 months in doing one more round of traffic study now SWR as SWR will not accept its own RITES study.  By that time, he will be removed from the ministry, so fate Bangalore citizens depends on BMTC and NAMMA METRO only.

The timings and routes for the Yeshwanthpur-Hosur and the Yeshwanthpur-Devanahalli sectors have been finalised, but operations are expected to start after April 6 when the model code of conduct for the just-concluded BBMP polls is no longer applicable.

According to top Railway sources, a passenger train with five coaches, which will run two daily trips from Yeshwanthpur to Hosur, is ready. The timings for the Yeshwanthpur-Devanahalli up-down service will be fixed between the time the train to Hosur departs and arrives Yeshwanthpur.

“Each coach can seat a maximum of 110 passengers. So, over 500 passengers can commute on each trip,” said an official, adding that the number of coaches can be increased depending on demand.

Operations on the two routes were to begin March-end but the launch was delayed because electrification of the track between Yeshwanthpur and Hosur needed completion. The Yeshwanthpur-Devanahalli route is electrified, but only up to Yelahanka. A decision was therefore taken to run diesel-powered engines as are prevalent in Chennai and Mumbai, sources said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/61658/suburban-trains-devanahalli-soon.html

Finally MoS Shri K H Muniyappa is keeping his promises made.  Now these Suburban Train will run  from Yesvanthpur to Hosur two trips and to Devanhalli one trip.  Hope they will start these trains from Bangalore city later.  Along with thiese two services, one more passanger train announced during budget to Nelamanagal should be started so that with these three Trains,  now Citizens can  start using more Suburban Trains with Bangalore.  Even I have observed Hebbal station is getting makeover.  Similarly they should improve  Lottegolhalli,  Kodagehalli stations so that  passangers  will feel more comfortable in using  the Train services.

Also BMTC should start feeder services to these Railway Stations specifially  to Devanhalli, CarmelRam & Heelalige station

Hope this will reduce some pressure on the road of Bangalore specifically to electronic city / Hosur road. Now its for the Citizens to use this Train services and reduce usage of Cars.

Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa will flag off trains along three long-awaited routes on Tuesday.

YPR to Devanahalli, Hosur
Meanwhile, the train eagerly sought by IT professionals and air passengers, a suburban diesel loco train between Yeshwantpur and Devanahalli and Yeshwantpur and Hosur will also be flagged off from Yeshwantpur at 10.30 am. Detailed timings will be released on Tuesday.
With two services to Hosur and one service to Devanhalli,  now citizens should use this facility.  This is small step towards the Local Trains for Bangalore.

Requesting all Praja and Citizens of Bangalore to give more publicity for this. As we have seen, thier is no publicity for this.

Speaking at the programme organised to felicitate all the 111 newly-elected BJP corporators on Tuesday

Stating that his government was committed to the development of the city, Yeddyurappa said bringing local train facility to the city was his top priority.

“We will meet Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in 3-4 days and request clearance for the project,” he said, adding the government was prepared to spend at least Rs 500 crore for the same.

The chief minister also added that the government was serious about implementing the monorail project in the city.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/day-after-bbmp-results-bidadi-gas-plant-cleared/163271.html

Its good that CM himself is batting for Local Trains. Why he is not calling  high level meeting of BMLTA, IDD, SWR, Cheif Secretary of Karnatak with  all 27 MLA's  and 4 MP's from Bangalore with MoS Shri K H Muniyappa. CM & Shrie K H Muniyappa both are speaking at the public places and blaming each other. CM  wants to talk to Railway Minister Mamtha & K H Muniyappa wants money first and the  he will start survey for Circular Train & not bothered about Local Trains on existing tracks with capacity augumentation. Something is serious worng going on between CM & K H Muniyappa.

Rail connectivity will be established along the Varthur-Anekal-Devanahalli route within six months, assured Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/62471/varthur-devanahalli-rail-link-next.html

Union minister of state for railways KH Muniyappa said that it would take at least three to four years to provide seamless rail connectivity to BIA. "Land has to be acquired for laying tracks and more trains need to be introduced. We are in talks with the state government," he said.
Muniyappa said that this new train service was primarily for workers, office-goers, businessmen and labourers. He said that dedicated trains for airline passengers would be introduced within six months up to Chikkajalla, and that after six months, two more trains would be introduced with services extended up to Chikkaballapur.
These new train services are part of SWR's proposal to introduce circular suburban trains across Devanahalli, Anekal, Magadi, Ramanagaram, Chikkabalapur and Doddabalapur. "This is the first phase of the project. Connectivity to the remaining stations will be completed within six months. Plans are being chalked out to help passengers board the train from other stations to BIA without traveling up to City Railway station," said Akhil Agarwal, Bangalore divisional railway manager, SWR.
 

http://news.indiainfo.com/article/c-86-148034-849513/1038761.html

Hope the MoS Shir K H Muniyappa brings some more Local Trains for Bangalore city as early as possible.  Also the Local Trains and Circular Train  both are required. Hope Mamatha sanctions these projects on cost sharing basis as the  earliest.

One can not expect the train to get 100% occupancy in short time. Following corrective actions need to be done by different agency, as the   Lack of responsibilty  by Railways, BMTC,  IDD and co-orindations amoung them. 

1. Required  Publicity  for these services need to be done.

2. BMTC should play buse for last mile connectivity at Yesvanthpur Station, Devanhalli, Anekal, Belandur, Banaswadi, Karmelaram, Hellage stations.

3. Timing need to be alogned with office time  at the morning and at the evening.

5. As above Vasanth mentioned, train should start from Kengeri with more frequency.

6. New  Stations at t the below Trumphet  near BIAL NH-7 and one more station at Srjapur road and Chandapur on Hosur road needed.

5. Near future these trains will help the METRO commuter  those who use Yesvanthpur  METRO station and  Railway Stations.

So we should not get disappointment,  as we can see on Hosur / Anekal segment with 30 % occupancy  shows that commuters really in nead of the Local Trains, with proper schedules of Trains on Office timings in the morning and evening with starting point  from Kengeri  will  have more occupancy.

Also as BMTC bus fares are going up and even IT comapnies have increased their company transport bus fairs recently,  commuters will start slowly prefering these Local Trains  and with MTERO station at Yesvanthpur  ( by next year ), the patronage from the public  will improve drastically.

Also time is required for aceptance by the Public.