DRM's presentation (regarding Commuter Rail etc)

The following interesting points arose from the presentation made by the DRM (Divisional Rly Manager, Mr Akhil Agarwal), and the discussions that followed:

1) Track and platform capacity:
There are some 140 pairs of express (not all of them operating on all days of the week), and 90 pairs of passenger trains operating in and out of Bangalore (I am not sure I got the figures exact; but, they are around these). And, there is continuous pressure from the public to have them arrive/ depart during the peak hours (6 to 8 AM for arrival; 7 to 11 PM for departure).

As such, the tracks and platforms are too clttered presently to operate Commuter trains at desired timings.

Some stretches of tracks (particularly amongst the most busy ones like between Bangalore City and Byappanahally) are currently operating at over 150% capacity, allowing for 2.5 hrs maintenance breaks. Now, I must admit I didn't quite understand this fully, nor many others in the audience. For a non-IR man, 100% capacity would imply that he will then be seeing trains running throughout. But, apparently, IR has certain norms for determining the denominator based on safety and other aspects. Also, the DRM mentioned that unlike in coastal and level terrains like in Mumbai, they have to allow for higher safety factors in hilly terrains like in Bangalore, since the momentum of loaded rakes becomes a crucial factor here. During the discussions that followed, however, it appeared there could be a scope for reviewing these factors, and thereby increasing capacity. And, that's where, I believe, Devesh has requested technical help from PRAJAgalu.

2) Passenger (non-express) trains:
Another matter that became evident was the financial drag caused by the "passenger" (non-express) trains. The operations are totally uneconomical, and it is almost impossible to increase the fares because of vote bank politics. Most of them were introduced by various politicians to serve their respective constituencies, and then it became impossible to withdraw them. Some of them are well patronised (like the ones between Bangalore and Mysore), largely because of the low fares, compared to the bus fares.

And, there are plenty of them in operation eating into track and platform capacity, and during peak hours, denying the IR the opportunity to provide more revenue earning express and goods train services and thereby serve the public and economy better. The so-called social purpose of these operations thus becomes questionable.

An answer may be to offer all the regular commuters on these trains one year's free pass bus pass on KSRTC (paid for by IR), and then to withdraw these services altogether.


3) Additional tracks to Devenahalli:
While adding additional parallel tracks beyond Hebbal may not be difficult, doing that in the inner city is going to be extremely difficult.

4) Shifting of Bangalore City station:
There is no proposal to shift the Bangalore city station to Devanahalli.

Muralidhar Rao