Trains to put road traffic back on track

Proposed suburban railway service expected to reduce vehicular traffic once it starts operating

Proposed suburban railway service expected to reduce vehicular traffic once it starts operating

Traffic congestion can soon be a thing of the past. Experts say the proposed suburban railway service in the city will reduce road congestion by 40 per cent.

For starters, the suburban train services will link Bangalore city, Anekal, Yelahanka, Yeshwantpur, K R Puram, Kengeri and Devanahalli. There are also plans of setting up stations at every interval of two kilometres.

Akhil Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, South Western Railway, said, "We will begin operations with skeletal services and later decide on the number of trips. Normally, suburban rakes need engines on both ends (to ensure that engine need not be detached and reattached), but right now we don't have this facility. It will start in March."

A survey of the suburban railway is also underway. Railway officials said they were keen on having a circular train service that could be extended to include stations such as Banaswadi, Whitefield and Malleswaram later.

Traffic expert Professor M N Sreehari said, "Once the trains start chugging to these destinations, road traffic to the concerned places will automatically come down by at least 40 per cent. It will also stop the road widening projects and postpone them by a few more years. Widening many roads in impossible due to lack of space and this is the best alternative."

The suburban railway system has the backing of Member of Parliament and former union minister Ananth Kumar.

"Bangalore should have a train system on the lines of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai," he said during the launch of Yeshwantpur-Howrah Duronto Express recently.

The railway lines of Bangalore-Kengeri, Tumkur, Yelahanka, Whitefield, Hosur, Anekal and Devanahalli run parallel to existing roads. Experts believe that upgrading stations, infrastructure and other things can happen simultaneously.

Once, the rail service starts, people will be able to safely travel to all these places in lesser time and less money.

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