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Namma Railu gets Approval from State Government!
Written By kbsyed61 - 20 March, 2013
Bangalore CRS GOK Namma Railu Commuter rail
Prajagale,
Namma Railu Proposal has been approved by GOK.........................
A great news we were waiting for. At last government of Karnataka has given its in-principle approval to the proposals for implementing 'Commuter Rail Service' connecting Bengaluru with its suburbs and surrounding towns of Tumkur, Mandya, Ramangaram, Hosur, Bangarpet, Malur, Chikballpur and Doddaballapur.
Big thanks to the Chief Minister and his cabinet for giving their approval. We do hope that the efforts doesn't stop here but continues until the trains start chugging on these identified routes. My vote for all those who supports this project in its implementation:)
We owe a lot to MPs from Tumkur and Bangalore South, Shri. Basavaraj and Shri. Ananth Kumar for their esteem support and efforts in pursuing the matter up to the approval. Thanks all their office staff specially their Personal Assistants for making sure that this gets all the attention
Thank you DULT, IDD, UDD and Chief secretary's office for their crucial role in getting this project get its due and taking up to the cabinet for their approval.
Thanks to Chief Secretary, Dr. Amita Prasad (PS, UDD), Dr. Rajkumar Khatri (PS, IDD) and Smt. Manjula (Commissioner, DULT) for their leadership in getting this project approved by the government and looking forward to more work in coming days.
Source Deccan Herald
"...The State Cabinet, which met here on Tuesday, gave in-principle approval for Commuter Rail System (CRS) for Bangalore. It is also expected to benefit people in six districts surrounding the City, viz, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkur, Ramnagar and Bangalore Rural, by providing faster connectivity.
A senior official in the State government told Deccan Herald that the respective departments have been told to prepare detailed project reports (DPR) for all the proposed routes as mentioned in the feasibility report on CRS submitted to the government by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES).
In the first phase, the government intends to start CRS between Bangalore-Tumkur, Bangalore- Mandya and Bangalore-Bangarpet. CRS for other proposed routes, namely, Bangalore-Chikkaballapur, Bangalore-Doddaballapur, Bangalore-Hoskote and Bangalore-Nelamangala will be taken up in phases, said the official..."
Finally, I woud like to take this opportunity to thank all the Praja.in members for their support and help with the Namma Railu campaign. Your discussions, comments, suggestions have paved the way for Bengaluru to have its suburban rail system.
Last but not the least, Namma Railu Team, thank you so much for achieving the first milestone and best wishes for success in upcoming milestones - Approvals from Railways and GOI.
I don't have to say this, the work has only started now. Miles to go before I sleep..............
COMMENTS
Two years on, Bangalore-Nelamangala train no closer to reality
Sanjeev - 26 March, 2013 - 03:39
SWR ays related file pending for clearance with Railway Board
Two years have passed since the Union Railway budget sanctioned a passenger train service between Bangalore and Nelamangala. But for residents and regular commuters on this route, the dream of seeing trains operate on this line has not materialised.
Although the Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the track in April 2012, officials with South Western Railway (SWR) explained that a related file on the Bangalore-Nelamangala train is pending for clearance with the Railway Board in New Delhi.
But Sanjeev D, a transport expert, placed the blame squarely on SWR, accusing it of not making any effort to open the new line, even when the State government is sharing the cost of the Bangalore-Hassan railway line (of which the Bangalore-Nelamangala line is a part).
“The Bangalore-Tumkur railway line branches out at Chikkabanavara and becomes the Bangalore-Hassan line, passing through Nelamangala, Kunigal and other places,” he said.
“Platform and station facilities have already been created in Nelamangala. With no trains being operated, however, the station has fallen into disuse.”
“The opening of the line will go a long way in addressing the commuting needs of hundreds of passengers, especially office-goers, who depend on BMTC buses and other transport means to reach their destinations in the City,” he said.
“Many passengers feel that operating trains on the stretch will go a long way in providing smoother and faster connectivity.”
Public criticism
Public exasperation over the lack of progress on the line has been mounting and has even led to a complaint being filed with the Railway Board, an official said.
A senior official at SWR’s head office in Hubli said lack of political will was also to blame for the delay. At a meeting held in the Vidhana Soudha in March 2012, the then Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa had promised to open the line within a month. “Several months went by and there was no positive action. Now, the Railway Board is said to have cited the code of conduct for the Assembly polls as the reason for the delay,” he said.
“The Railway Board can give its nod for a quiet opening of the line, keeping in view the interests of the people. SWR has been spending large sums of money for the maintenance of the track and station at Nelamangala. This project should not be neglected,” he said.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/321640/two-years-bangalore-nelamangala-train.html
Let Railway Board open this line without any function similar to BIAL opening was done in 2008 May
kbsyed61 - 21 March, 2013 - 00:12
A big thank is also due to all our journalist friends for reporting news bytes about Namma Railu Proposals, happenings at various meetings at government corridors, Praja discussions, campaigns etc.
Thanks to Times Of India, Deccan Herald, DNA India, Citizens Matters, Deccan Chronicle, Business Standard, The New Indian Express and The Hindu, for regularly carrying columns and news about commuter rail service proposals.
A testimony of everybody working for the common good - Namma Railu.
srinidhi - 21 March, 2013 - 05:43
The Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday evening is learnt to have approved about 100 proposals, anticipating the election announcement by the ECI.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/320452/poll-code-halts-govt-largesse.html
So its kinda back to sq one?
kamalakar pandit - 21 March, 2013 - 06:56
Hope the future govt. takes it forward. congress leader is planning to write to ECI not to take up any kind of project approvals till the elections...I only hope Namma Railu should not be affected by this..
yes its a great news..atlast govt approved it...big thanks to people who are behind it...
Really looking forward --
Sanjay/satya/srinidhi/muralidhar rao/syed bahi/hemanth - all must be very happy to see this development...
Regards
Kamal
Vasanth - 21 March, 2013 - 02:52
This is indeed a great news to hear, and a great relief for regular commuters. Daily they had to travel in long distance trains without seats very uncomfortably.
A big thanks to Syed, IDS, Pranav, Sanjeev,Srinidhi and co praja bloggers who pushed it.
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