Bengaluru: It looks like Bengaluru will finally get a suburban railway as the state government, on Sunday, February 2, announced that money would be allocated for the project in the state budget.
Speaking to ANI about the development, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that money would be provided for the project and added that it is expected to be completed in three years’ time.
“We (state government) will provide the money. We want the project to be completed in three years so we will start the work as soon as possible,” ANI quoted the CM as saying.
Informing that the state budget will be presented on February 5, he said that its main agenda is agriculture.
It can be recalled that on Saturday, February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had made a mention of the suburban rail project during her budget presentation at the Parliament. She proposed that the Centre would contribute 20% of the project’s funding.
Elaborating on the project during a press meet, the CM said that the network will operate in four corridors spread over 148.17 kms.
The four corridors, BSY explained, are Kengeri to Whitefield, KSR Bengaluru railway station to Devenahalli via Yeshwantpur, (connectivity will be provided to Devanahalli International Airport also), Chikkabanawara to Baiyyappanahalli and Heelalige to Rajankunte.
“The estimated cost of the project is Rs 18,600 crores. The Centre and state will fund 20 per cent of the cost each and the remaining 60 per cent will be an institutional loan,” the CM informed.
He added that suburban railway stations will be built at 57 prominent places in Bengaluru city. “The train coaches will also be air-conditioned,” he said.
This project is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city, help provide a faster commute and reduce environmental pollution.
Civic activist and convener of Citizens for Citizens (C4C), Rajkumar Dugar, who met the CM informally along with other civic activists to discuss the suburban railway project hours prior to the press meet, said that there are a few important questions that have gone unanswered.
“Firstly, it would have been much more desirable to have the CCEA approval in place rather than a mention in the Union Budget. Anyway, work can start only after getting the CCEA approval, which we are told is now, just a formality. But in the meanwhile, Bengaluru loses on account of delay.
“Secondly, if the Union and state governments are going to pitch in with 20% each, how exactly will the KRIDE raise loans? This is important because finally, every rupee spent by the KRIDE, including interest on loans, will have to be paid by the commuters.
“Lastly, the railway fares are always far below when compared to the Metro fares. But it looks like the suburban train fare will be closer to the Metro fare. If this is true, this is highly retrograde. Presently, a train journey from Yeswanthpur to Devanahalli by train costs just Rs 10. We cannot have high railway fares,” he said.
(With inputs from ANI)
