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Baiyappanahalli-Hosur railway track doubling gains momentum

By Y Maheswara Reddy I NT

Bengaluru: If all goes well, the track doubling work between Baiyappanahalli and Hosur is set to gain momentum. Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited is leaving no stone unturned to speed up the work that is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

On Wednesday, the company invited tenders from the eligible contractors for the construction of station building, platforms, platform shelters, circulating area, approach roads and other passenger amenities works at Bellandur Road Railway Station. The tender also included the construction of station building at Huskur and extension of platforms, construction of platform shelters.

It also includes providing ramp for existing foot over bridges at Karmelaram railway station, signal and telecommunication (S&T) building, interlocked LC gates including all electrical works and other miscellaneous works up to Karnataka/Tamil Nadu state border in Bangalore Division of South Western Railway. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 43.63 crore.

According to Prakash Mandoth, a member of Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee South Western Railways, the track doubling project would be a boon for thousands of people working at IT hubs around Mahadevapura and other areas.

“Passengers have been demanding for the track doubling between Baiyappanahalli and Hosur for more than a decade. The construction of a new station at Huskur will be a boon for the nearby wholesale fruit market,’’ he said. He demanded the railway authorities to construct railway stations at Doddanekundi, Munnekolala and KHB Layout..

Abhisekh R, a rail activist, opined that track doubling would create more demand for trains and it would help locals and employees working at software companies. “The track doubling will be a great help for railway passengers going towards Tamil Nadu,’’ he said.

Sanjeev Dyamannavar, a rail activist, opines that doubling of track would enable running of more MEMU (mainline electric multiple unit) services to Hosur and more number of intercity trains. “New halt station at Huskur and further existing station upgradation will give good connectivity to Bengaluru with increased number of trains which will help lakhs of railway passengers,’’ he said.