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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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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

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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.

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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?

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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 

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Source - The New Indian Express

"...Finally, the state government has given the green signal to Phase 1(a) of the long-pending Commuter Rail Project to connect the suburban areas to the City Central Station.

A special purpose vehicle (SPV), likely to be called Bangalore Suburban Rail Corporation, will be set up for the purpose. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has been authorised to prepare a detailed project report for Phase 1(a).  K Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Bangalore Division of South Western Railway (SWR), said the project might take at least two years to take off, considering land acquisition, funds and the process duration..."

"...The report said Phase 1(a) included activities for  Commuter Rail System that can be completed immediately such as procurement of 5 MEMU rakes, making City Railway Station - Cantonment line into twin single line system and setting up automatic signalling on Cantonment to Byappanahalli line, developing four pit lines at Byappanahalli and two additional pit lines at Yeswantpur.

Twenty four services can be run with these facilities, generating 4 lakh commuter trips at the end of Phase 1(a), it said. The estimated investment for this work is `173 crore. Earlier, Infrastructure Development Department Secretary Dr Rajkumar Khatri said the chief secretary had suggested inclusion of officials of Urban Development Department, Railways, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, RITES and other departments in the SPV.

Khatri said the state was banking on the Centre and the Railways for the funds. Meanwhile, Transport Minister R Ashok said he was not aware of the developments. “I did not attend the second half of the Cabinet meeting as I was not feeling well. I don’t know about the decision on the project,” he said..."

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Source - Times of India

Commuter Rail cleared by state; hangs at Centre's desks

"...The in-principle clearing of the project will now ready the proposal to be sent to the board for a final call. The commuter rail project is designed to connect the suburban towns and satellite towns around the city such that people who stay in these areas and come to work in the city can travel faster and cheaper. The trains will be similar to what we see in Mumbai or Chennai or Kolkata.

The project proposal is designed by Rail India Technical and Economic Solutions (RITES) which is a government undertaking consultancy and only after the Centre has cleared the project, detailed project report will be made. Some part of the line doubling work to start trains running at a frequency of one hour between Tumkur and Yesvantpur, Yesvantpur—Yelahanka has already started and two segments Yesvantpur—Hosur (66 Km) and Yelahanka—Doddaballapur (21 Km) doubling of tracks are critical for the Commuter Rail which is to be taken up on priority..."

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As the project got approved in cabinet,  any way election process will delay the project moving.

CM & his team  can not announce the project approval in the media or in public.  Thats the difference.  Other things moving proposal to Center  should procced.

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1. Introduction of passenger train between Nelamangala-Bangalore will be implemented shortly on receipt of directions from Railway Board and after getting clearance from Election commission due to code of Conduct,due to announcement of Assembly elections in Karnataka.

2. Section between Kottur-Harihar is not opened for traffic, on opening the section for traffic Passenger train will be introduced which was announced in Railway Budget.

http://pgportal.gov.in/ViewStatusForm.aspx?useraction=settings%24JS%3dq5LbqUEx5A8WjXUO

http://pgportal.gov.in/

Complaint No : MORLY/E/2013/02261

PUBLIC GRIEVANCES  portal of Central govt is really good one and  issues gets resolved,  I had  got BSNL pre-paid mobile issue resolved  last month thru this portal when BSNL officers did't resolve my issue / complaint.

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An article in Deccan Chronicle..

It mentions Pranav aka Silkboard's name as well and Praja:

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130405/news-current-affairs/article/bengaluru-local

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Vasanth,

Thanks for the link to the nice article.

On lighter note, interestingly the article is penned by Monica Jha. It seems Jha's are every where?

Our won Pranav Jha in Praja-RAAG, Mithila Jha (BMTC) now Monica Jha?.

SB, any link?

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One more addition to commuter rail service although it is not on an hourly basis but just rail connectivity. South Western Railway announced a new passenger train to Nelamangala with two double decker chair car coaches from April 25.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/SWR-on-a-spree-to-announce-new-trains/articleshow/19731937.cms
 

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Sanjeev,

Thanks for sharing this news. Only one schedule? Hope the frequency increases and suits the offices, School and Business hours.

At present here is the train schedule:

The train departs from Bangalore city at 12:20pm and reaches Nelamangala at 1:20pm and on its return leaves Nelamangala at 2:10pm and reaches Bangalore at 3:20pm. It would stop at Malleswaram, Yesvantpur, Chikbanavar and Soladevanahalli.

BTW, some credit goes to you for following up with SWR. It shows that if citizens starts following up on issues, there is a fair chance of getting it implemented/executed.

Thanks Sanjeev. Let's plan a trip and celebrate it on the Train. Bill is on me.

-Syed

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Thanks Syed.

We will try to make trip on Nelamangala Train some time soon.

This Train will help Chikbanavar station passengers like Medical & engineering  students for return in the evening towards city

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Nelamangla Train started today with good no of Pass

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Passengers @ Nelmangla

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where is the like button..

hope press gives it the attention it deserves..

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is here, on this separate post, with more pictures: Report on Nelamangala Commuter Train

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The Bangalore division of the South Western Railways (SWR) has finally managed to get 3.3 acres of land of the Binny Mills area to help them expand the City Railway Station.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in a land swap, has allotted the Binny Mills property to the Railways, in exchange of 3.16 acres of Railways land.

The SWR authorities have provided the BBMP 3.16 acres of Railway land for the construction of the Okalipuram Corridor, a flyover connecting Majestic to Fountain Circle in Rajajinagar.
The 16-acre Binny Mills land has been a demand of the SWR authorities for a long time so as to allow the expansion of the fast-choking City Railway Station.

“Though our primary demand for more land remains pending, the allotted 3.3 acres will help the City Railway station expand the pit line from its present 18-coach facility to a 24-coach facility and improve efficiency," said Divisional Manager Anil Kumar Agarwal.

He added that the new facility could possibly ease some pressure off the City Railway Station, but ideally, the station needed a lot more land in order to meet its increasing passenger footfalls.

Partial notification

Agarwal said Railways was yet to get complete possession of the land. He said, “On February 12, only a partial notification was issued by the BBMP. The complete possession has been pending since then.”

Agarwal said the delay was due to the change in government and that he was expecting the complete possession shortly.

He said that he was not too optimistic about any further acquisition of the Binny Mills land as the State government had planned to acquire the rest of the land for its commuter rail project, which will help connect the satellite towns to the Central Business District.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/333874/at-last-bbmp-transfers-binny.html

So finally SWR will it make use of this piece of Ladnd for Pit Lines and expand the PF at city station.

So finally GOK has to move fast to get the  balance land for the Commuter Rail.

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Resurrecting Commuter Rail

Using the City’s existing rail infrastructure, the Commuter Rail Service (CRS) proposal offered suburbs-bound commuters a quick and cheap alternative, an escape from the gridlocked roads.

But, finding no mention in the Railway Budget 2013-14, CRS was destined for the cold storage. Informed experts and concerned citizens now want at least the first phase launched as a pilot skeletal service, with a few modifications to the project as envisaged by infrastructure consultants, Rail India Technical and Economic Solutions (RITES).

First, where the project stands today. The RITES had submitted its final report on the project to the State Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) in August 2012. The BJP government in the State had reportedly cleared the CRS project in March 2013 in a Cabinet meeting and the proposal sent to the Railway Board in Lucknow.

However, the Board could not take a quick decision on the funding. Result: It found no mention in the railway budget.

But the project need not wait another year. Eager to resurrect the eminently workable CRS, Satinder Pal Cho­pra, a seasoned researcher on railways, has suggested a few modifications to kickstart the project’s Phase 1A.
Four lakh to be benefitted
“About three to four lakh passengers will be benefitted by just this initial phase alone,” he told Deccan Herald.
Citing the Railways’ policy of giving operational priority to suburban trains (over long distance Express trains) while framing railway time-tables, Chopra recommends that all trains under CRS should halt at the City and Cantonment railway stations for not more than five minutes.
This would ensure that the schedule of other trains is unaffected.
Since Platforms 3, 7 and 9 at the City station are occupied only less than 50 per cent of the day, Chopra says the suburban trains on the Bangalore City-Malur section could berth at Platform 3, the City-Ramanagara section on Platform 7  and the City-Yeshwantpur-Tumkur section on Platform 9. At the Yeshwantpur station, all these trains could stop at Platform 3. This arrangement would require only minor changes in timings / berthing of two to three long distance trains.
Designed this way, the CRS first phase could accommodate 20 suburban services on the City-Malur section, 16 on the City-Ramanagara section, six each on the City-Tumkur, Yeshwantpur-Tumkur and Yeshwantpur-Hosur sections, and two services on the Cantonment-Hosur sector.
The RITES report, however, had sought the construction of two more platforms at the City station, exclusively for commuter trains. Its rationale: The 10 platforms are fully occupied and there is hardly any slot on any platform for handling additional trains.
Sub-urban trains are operated with Main Electric Multiple Units (MEMU) and Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMU).  These trains accelerate and decelerate much faster than the normal trains. Currently, the South Western Railways operate six MEMU and 10 DEMU services as passenger trains daily.
In all, the SWR use only one MEMU rake (combination of coaches) and three DEMU rakes. Chopra’s recommendation is to add three more DEMU and four more MEMU rakes to join this fleet, for the first phase of CRS.
The four additional MEMU rakes could be shared between the City-Malur and City-Ramanagara sections. The three DEMU rakes could operate on the Cantonment-Hosur, City- Yeshwantpur-Tumkur, and Yeshwantpur-Hosur sectors.
 

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/334502/first-phase-crs-benefit-four.html

Will new CM clear this project  and when will the proposal move to Center???

Thanks to efforts of Mr Satindra Pal Chopra.  Now Nelamangala citizens also making efforts to get morning and evening trains from Bangalore. 

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Honestly one has to appreciate Chopra Sir efforts. Hope Hon C M takes Namma Railu Project to next level and its speedy implementation...

I Have small doubt..whether DULT or UDD or any other Dept needs to start a fresh or the old DPR or RITES reports are sufficient to take the project forward....

Normal citizen's like us are eagerly waiting to see its speedy implementation...

Regards

kamalakar

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Turning it into a pass-through station will boost efficiency, say experts

Source - Deccan Herald

"...The acutely overstretched Bangalore City Railway Station (Code: SBC) could dramatically improve its efficiency if converted from a terminal to a pass-through station.

But this recommendation by a RITES survey would mean a radical redesign of the Station, virtually impossible with only 3.3 acres of the 16-acre Binny Mills land handed over to the South Western Railway. 

Currently, the Station’s 10 platforms, six pit lines (maintenance lines) and eight stabling lines (during idling hours) are grossly inadequate to handle even an additional train. Since the SBC evolved historically as a terminal, there is no interconnectivity of all the platform lines, which is critical for the smooth functioning of any big station.

Ideally, all platform lines should be universal. This system would have allowed trains from or to any direction (Baiyappanahalli, Yeshwanthpura or Mysore side) to enter or exit any platform line. But this universal choice is uniquely unavailable at the City Station..."

It will be win win for city and Railways in long run and may be next 50 / 75 years. Will the current govt acts swiftly on this Cabinet decision taken in March'2013?

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From June'2013,   Dr. Anup Dayanand Sadhu will take over as the Sr Divisional Operational Manager (SDOM ) in SWR Bangalore Division.  He is a dynamic person and very much focussed on customers. Recently he has received the award from President of India for Most Tourist Friendly award to Mysore Division.

He is born and brought up in Bangalore including his MBBS graduation from Bangalore. We can dicuss with him even over the Facebook also. Already some of the Praja members are interacting with him over the facebook.
                               

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I am From Tumkur, daily traveller. From July 1st Train No.16536 will run at 6:30 am from Tumkur as opposed to 8:00am now. This is simply ridiculous decision by railway. This is going to trouble at least 2000 passengers who travels daily to Bangalore.
Railway never cares for passengers,

Please some needful to these passengers.

Thanks

Rajashekar

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Just to clarify here that, 8500+ crores is for all 3 phases spread over 3 to 5 years generating a total commuter capacity of 20 Lakhs on all the identified routes in all directions.

May be the GOK is missing a point highlighted in 2012 RITES report that, while planning for the full fledged CRS service, a small subset can be easily be realized with a small investment of 200 crores. Per RITES, from the last meeting called by DULT, SWR is in agreement with this proposal to start 24 services on BLR-Mandya and BLR-Bangarpet section. All that is need is GOK's proposal to SWR and the funds.

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The delegation also appealed the Planning Commission for approval of the Phase 2 of the Bangalore Metro and a sub-urban railway project for the city at a cost of Rs 8,759 crore.

http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/State-seeks-funds-for-projects/2013/06/27/article1654915.ece

Its good that new CM is making efforts on the Commuter Rail.

I still wounder has the GOK sent any formal request to Central Govt like : Railway Board, Planning Commission, Urban Development Dept  for Commuter Rail???

Without the request with Central Govt,  its of no use,  efforts made by CM or any others.  So its State Govt has to shoot the strong  request  to Center with out any second thought.

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Its Grest news..at last CM talking about CRS at Delhi..which was not done by any body earlier. secondly, the new SDOM Dr.Anup, is dynamic..this is the right time and hope Bangalore gets CRS at the earliest.

Regards

kamal

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On the proposal to introduce a commuter rail network for Bangalore, Kharge said he will examine whether it is feasible.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/342133/kharge-puts-state-railway-projects.html

From Yest meeting with GOK and Railway officals.

Its very important to reach Railway Minister  on the CRS and  looking at GOK for early clearing the CRS and send ing the same to Railway Minister. 

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Budget presented  now by CM Karnataka :

For Bangalore:

Rs 2250 crores allocated for peripheral ring road.
Arkavathy Layout sites to be allotted by March, 2014.
Rs 600 crores BDA complex at RT Nagar.
Rs 4150 crores JNNURM projects in Bangalore and Mysore.
To develop International Convention Centre at Devanahalli.
M G Road and Brigade roads to  get wi-fi.
Kempe Gowda layout to be formed by March, 2014 for 5000 allotees.
Bangalore Suburban Rail Corporation to be set up soon.
Indian Institute of Public Health to come up in Bangalore.
All RTO offices in Bangalore to be computerised.
Four more RTO offices in Bangalore.
Rs 150 crore allotted for elevated road between Jayadeva Hospital and Silk Board.
Rs 250 crores allotted for developing infrastructure in 110 villages that has been added to BBMP.
1.6 lakh saplings to be planted at a cost of Rs 20 crores.
Sarjapur and Bannerghata roads to be widened at a cost of Rs 300 crores.
Rs 500 crores earmarked for grade separators at important junctions.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/344341/live-blog-karnataka-budget-2013.html

Hope this CM and other are serious on this and with Railway Minister who is very active for Karnataka,  this project shoud see light of the day soon.

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Infra woes driving IT firms out of City

The companies are looking at Hyderabad, Pune and Navi Mumbai, besides keeping their options to go for expansions in China. According to an estimate by the ORR Companies Association (ORRCA), they lose Rs 22,770 crore or $3.45 billion a year. The direct employment in these companies is around four lakh, including 2.5 lakh in companies on ORR and 1.5 lakh in Whitefield. Before breaking for Christmas holidays, ORRCA representatives met  Principal Secretary (IT) V Manjula and placed their concerns before her. They are yet to hear from the government.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/522621/infra-woes-driving-firms-city.html

Delay by the State government in addressing infrastructure bottlenecks on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and in Whitefield is forcing several IT and ITES companies to shelve their expansion plans here owing to huge productivity loss.

Brocade India is looking at Navi Mumbai and has already shelved its expansion plans here. “Travel time there is less and there is a good public transport,’’ he cited as reasons for shifting. Almost every company on the ORR has shelved expansion plans, he added. Sarv Sarvanan, Managing Director, EMC Corporation India, admitted that productivity issues are becoming visible globally. “Bengaluru is no more local. We are getting customers and visitors from all over the world. They all know how much time it takes to cover 1 km here,’’ he pointed out. 

“When we mention expansion, it is being questioned. They ask what the government is doing? Is it going to address the problems in real time?” Sarvanan explained, saying it was a challenge to get expansion approvals. 

EMC is looking at Hyderabad, Pune and even at China if things don’t improve. “We are all suffering from productivity loss.  It becomes a battle and requires more effort to convince higher ups,’’ said Ram Narayanan, General Manager, eBay Product Development Centre.
Company honchos said if the government fails to create a better business climate in the next six months, we have to look elsewhere, they said.

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