BENGALURU: Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar has called for the establishment of a separate organisation to deal with railway projects pertaining to Bengaluru, including the suburban rail network.
Speaking at a function organised at the City Station to mark the inauguration of six new facilities in the Bengaluru Railway Division, Ananth Kumar said that the entity could be on the lines of Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (K-Ride), which is jointly funded by the Indian Railways and the State government. “It could follow the same model as K-Ride and become B-Ride, Bengaluru Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation. The suburban rail network can be taken care of by it.”
Making a strong case for kickstarting of suburban commuter services at the earliest, the Bengaluru South MP said technical problems were cited as reasons for delay in starting the process.
Suburban Rail Promise
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu assured travellers that suburban rail services for Bengaluru will be taken up at the earliest. “I will not lag behind in realising the dream of all citizens... I promise you, I will make it happen,” he said.
Union Law and Justice Minister Sadananda Gowda spoke of the Centre’s willingness to provide 50 per cent of the Rs 9,000 crore required to introduce suburban services.
State Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Dinesh Gundu Rao said the Detailed Project Report in connection with suburban rail services was ready. “It is an absolute necessity for Bengalureans,” he said.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar and MP P C Mohan today announced funds from MPLADS funds for railway infrastructure.
On Saturday, Mohan announced Rs 76 lakh for the development of Whitefield Railway Station. Ananth Kumar said he was inspired by the gesture of Mohan and announced allocation of Rs 70 lakh from his MPLAD fund towards improving the C Krishnadevarayapuram halt station in the Bengaluru-Mysuru section.
The Railway Minister inaugurated six new projects relating to the Bangalore Division.
A new station building in the second entry (Okalipuram side) was thrown open to the public today. Through video link, he inaugurated a new building on Platform 4 of Krishnarajapuram railway station (Built at a cost of Rs 1.62 crore), 64 staff quarters at Hubbali and dedicated Foot-Overbridges of Alnavar, Koppal and Almatti stations.