Rail Budget: Residents want SWR to remodel KSR station

Nischith N | NT

Hubballi-headquartered South Western Railways (SWR) has received the highest ever annual budgetary allocation of Rs 6,900 crore since its inception during the recent budget.

However, Bengalurubased commuters and activists want the railways to concentrate on ongoing projects and priority should be on re-modelling the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station (KSR Bengaluru), as the station has become very congested.

“They have allocated for the new projects like Shivamogga-ShikaripuraRanebennur-TumakuruChitradurga-Davangere Bagalkot-Kudachi Rayadurga-Tumakuru via KalyanaDurg with Rs 100 crore. But not a single metre of land has been handover to the railways. Better they have a plan to improve the ongoing projects and remodel KSR station,” says Krishna Prasad, a commuter activist.

According to the reports, the demand of re-modelling of KSR station has been long pending, but SWR has not taken any action.

taken any action. It is claimed that the track at KSR station is not connected to all directions. A train coming from Mysuru can enter only between platforms 5 and 10, while those coming from Cantonment can enter only on platform one 1 to 7, and from Yeshwanthpur trains can enter only on eight to ten platforms. This often leads to the delay in entering the station. For instance, trains from Mysuru have to often wait at Kengeri or Nayanahdalli for the clearance.

“There are a lot of ongoing issues to be addressed immediately and budgets should be allocated to solve them. Railways should prepare the DPR for re-modelling the KSR and get the budget allocation. Apart from connectivity, the lengths of the platforms are also not uniform. Passengers find it difficult to board a 22-coach train on some platforms. So there are a lot of issues that need attention,” Prasad added.

The recent budget laid upon infrastructure development with an increased outlay of Rs. 6,900 crores as compared to the budget estimates of about Rs. 4900 crores for 2021-22. (40% increase). Priority is given for new projects and also to complete the on-going line capacity and route electrification works which were sanctioned in previous years.

Reacting on the issue, SWR senior official says “The budget is mainly for the ongoing projects and also given importance to city as well like doubling the line of YeshwanthpurChannasandra, YelahankaPenukonda and Baiyyappanahalli-Hosur railway lines. The electrification work has also been included. The remodelling of the KSR will be addressed soon.”

According to the reports, out of the total 3,605.5 rkm of SWR, 1,454 rkm (40%) has been already electrified. Another 200 rkm electrification is planned to be completed by March 2022. In the coming financial year, it is planned to carry out 554 rkm electrification across the zone. These doubling and electrification projects will improve connectivity, reduce pollution and enhance safety of railway operations.