BENGALURU: A move proposed by the Bangalore Railway Division to ease congestion at Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) railway station from Saturday by terminating five passenger trains at Bengaluru Cantonment station has been deferred. This follows public criticism online and a strongly worded letter sent to politicians.
The following trains Bangarpet-KSR Bengaluru (train 76508), KSR Bengaluru-Kolar (76551), Kolar-KSR Bengaluru (76552) KSR Bengaluru-Dharmapuri (76553) and Dharmapuri-KSR Bengaluru (76554) were supposed to be short terminated at Cantonment from Saturday but the move has been shelved.
IT professional Nagendra Shastry tweeted to MPs Ananth Kumar and P C Mohan as well as Minister Sadananda Gowda requesting them to talk to officials and ensure the trains maintain their present terminating stations.
Sanjeev Dyammannavar, co-founder of online activist platform Praja.in, a letter to Ananth Kumar accused senior railway officials of being the biggest hurdle for improving railway services. He said, “Due to lack of interest by senior railway officials in the Bengaluru Division, many running suburban trains are being cancelled or short terminated in spite of good infrastructure.”Top railway officials insist the move was effected only in public interest as the punctuality of many trains was taking a beating due to congestion at KSR station.
Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru Railway Division R S S Saxena said the move to shift these trains was proposed three months ago and was aimed at converting conventional trains to MEMUs, he added.
General Manager of South Western Railway A K Gupta said, “Many trains go up to KSR so that diesel can be filled. We have opened a fuel filling station at Cantonment. So why should trains which have poor occupancy be taken up to KSR for a refill?”