Bangalore: Railways plan to remove 35 city level crossings?

Earlier on October 23, City Express reported about the Divisional Railway manager, RS Saxena, writing to the Karnataka government with a proposal to replace 15 manned level crossings.
For representational purposes (File | PTI)
For representational purposes (File | PTI)

BENGALURU: South Western Railways Bengaluru division has put forward a proposal to the government, to eliminate 35 manned level crossings in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and BBMP limits. 

Earlier on October 23, City Express reported about the Divisional Railway manager, RS Saxena, writing to the Karnataka government with a proposal to replace 15 manned level crossings with rail over bridges on Baiyappanahalli-Hosur railway line. The state, in response, asked for the total number of level crossings that need to be eliminated in Bengaluru region.

45 such manned level crossings in the
city have been identified

“We have found 35 manned level crossings in Bengaluru in Hosur, Banaswadi, Hebbal, Lottegollahalli, Doddaballapur, Nayandahalli, Hejjala, Kengeri, Yelahanka, Devanahalli, Chikkabanavara, Channasandra, Baiyappanahalli and Nidavanda areas,” said a railway official. 

Listing some of the rules that warrant the splitting of costs between railways and state for the construction of rail overbridges (ROB), the official says, “Either the number of Train Vehicle Units (TVU) must cross 1 lakh or the level crossing gate must be closed for passage of trains, 12 or more times within 24 hours.”
The Train Vehicle Units (TVU) is calculated by multiplying the total number of trains passing through, with the number of vehicles that pass through in 24 hours. When doubling, quadrupling and the electrification of railway lines are carried out, the TVU increases, as more train services are run, and the road traffic is halted for considerably longer periods of time. For example, at one of the level crossings between Karmelaram and Baiyappanahall, the TVU on May 2018 was 2,42,641. After doubling, the figure is expected to increase to 4,27,510. 

There are 45 such level crossings across Karnataka, as per the SWR records. The estimate for ROB construction at Baiyappanahalli-Hosur section was `402.51 crore. 
“The estimate for all ROBs is yet to be calculated. We are waiting for acceptance from the state for cost-sharing on 50:50 ratio. The approximate cost of one ROB is `25 crore,” the official shared.
If approved, this will help ease congestion of buses, cars, autos and two-wheelers on roads, when gates are shut for the passage of operating trains.

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