BENGALURU: If an amicable settlement can be arrived at between the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bangalore Railway Division, a solution is in sight for the traffic problems in front of Krishnarajapuram Railway Station.
“What BDA desperately requires from the Railways is a land swap of 3,193.62 square metres (31.65 guntas) of land to facilitate widening of the service road near the K R Puram station,” said engineer P N Nayak.
“It takes 45 to 50 minutes to cross this stretch during peak hours and we can make a massive difference if the Railways agrees for the swap soon,” he said.
The land BDA seeks houses the Railway quarters and a parking area. “We are willing to provide land from our side and a sum of RS 3 crore towards rebuilding the quarters in the new area,” said Nayak.
The land swap issue has been raging between the two organisations since 2009. Numerous BDA commissioners and Divisional Railway managers and top officials on both sides have been trying to arrive at a solution to this issue.
Encroachment-free land wanted: Rlys
However, the Railways wants a fair deal. “We want the land to be encroachment-free so that we can use it for many public amenities,” said Divisional Railway manager Sanjiv Agarwal.
There is an issue over the RS 3 crore offered to rebuild the quarters. “The amount was fixed in 2011 and costs have escalated since then,” Agarwal said.
“BDA must bear the entire cost of rebuilding the quarters, which will be much higher than the amount they are ready to offer,” he said.
A railway source claimed the land BDA was willing to offer was encroached upon.
The Railways is also keen on building various public facilities including an approach road to the new booking office building and circulating area if they get the land. “The public struggles to use this new booking office due to poor access,” said a railway official. “We are keen on building an approach road here.”