Karnataka to railways: Extend suburban rail to Hosur, Tumakuru

BENGALURU: The government is demanding extension of Bengaluru’s proposed suburban railway network to peripheral areas to provide better connectivity to the outskirts and decongest the city.
At a meeting to review the draft feasibility report prepared by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) on Friday, the government recommended the railways extend the proposed rail link to satellite towns like Doddaballapura, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Bangarpet and Hosur.

Currently, the report proposes a 161km suburban network connecting the city with six suburban areas, including Rajanukunte, Nelamangala, Kengeri, Whitefield, Heelalige and Devanahalli. However, the government has suggested the link be extended from Rajanukunte to Doddaballapura, Nelamangala to Tumakuru, Kengeri to Ramanagara, Whitefield to Bangarpet and Heelalige to Hosur.
“The move would help people working in the city to live in these satellite towns, apart from decongesting the city,” said a senior state government official, who attended the meeting.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is already working to extend Metro connectivity to areas like Kengeri, Whitefield , Bommasandra and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC). “In future, Metro will be extended from BIEC to Nelamangala. So, we want the proposed suburban network to stretch further to cater to the needs of people living on the outskirts,” the official explained.
Mahendra Jain, additional chief secretary, urban development department, said they are mainly focusing on providing rail connectivity to areas which are not covered by Metro. “Rail link to the airport as well as areas untouched by Metro will be taken up in the first phase of the suburban rail project,” he said.
Experts say providing rail link to peripheral areas will decrease the number of private vehicles coming to Bengaluru and reduce congestion and pollution. It will also help inter-city passengers and may lower house rent in the city.
12-coach trains
The government has recommended the railways operate 12-coach trains on the proposed network. Officials said they have also suggested extending the platform length of the existing and new stations to accommodate longer trains. “We are mulling 12-coach trains as they can accommodate more passengers,” said an official.
The government has also asked the railways to improve facilities at stations, eliminate unmanned level crossings and provide multi-modal connectivity to other transport modes at major stations. Both railways and the state government have agreed to provide land for the project at a concessional rate.
SPV by January?
The long-pending special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the suburban rail network is finally inching towards reality. Officials attributed the delay to the process of changing the shareholding pattern. “We have completed all major procedures like signing an MoU with railways, getting approval from the Registrar of Companies for the change in shareholding pattern, etc. The SPV will be formed in a few weeks,” said a state government official.
The state will have the majority share of 51% in the SPV, while the railways will have 49%. It will be the nodal agency for execution of the Rs 17,000 crore project.
Goyal seeks early approvals from state
Union minister of railways Piyush Goyal has urged the state government to give early clearances to facilitate implementation of Bengaluru’s suburban rail project.
In a press release issued by South Western Railway on Friday, Goyal said the Karnataka government should work expeditiously in giving approvals and agree to granting of higher FSI and TDR, among other things to fund SWR’s share of the project.
Chief minister Kumaraswamy, who met Goyal at Railway Bhawan in New Delhi, said the state will give all the necessary clearances. SWR said RITES will submit a final feasibility report in a fortnight.