Bengaluru: Rapid trains designed to revolutionise city-to-city travel will soon come to Karnataka, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced while inspecting the redevelopment work of Bengaluru Cantonment station on Saturday. He emphasised that cities in Karnataka with ideal distances (less than 200 km) for rapid rail, such as Bengaluru and Mysuru, will greatly benefit from this new service. Vaishnaw said the first two rapid trains have already been manufactured – from Delhi to Meerut and Ahmedabad to Bhuj, and after a year of successful testing, mass production will begin. “Bengaluru is a magnet city, attracting people from neighbouring areas like Tumakuru and Mysuru and rapid trains will connect these cities at a high frequency, transforming travel,” he said. The Union minister also revealed plans to collaborate with the Bengaluru Airport Authority to extend the railway line closer to the airport terminals. “We are working with the airport authority to bring the railway station as close as possible to the departure and arrival terminals,” he added. The plan includes doubling the railway line from Bengaluru station to Yelahanka to accommodate more passengers.
Regarding the Bengaluru Cantonment redevelopment, Minister Vaishnaw said the station will have a G+2 structure with 18,000 sq m of new space. “Parking for 250 cars and 250 two-wheelers will be underground, providing convenience to passengers,” he said.
He compared the development to the earlier redevelopment of the Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal at Baiyappanahalli. Besides, the minister reviewed the progress of Bengaluru’s circular rail project, which is expected to transform the city’s transport network.
The Terminal Project Report (TPR) is on track to be completed by December, following which further steps will be taken. Vaishnaw also inspected the ongoing construction of the third and fourth lines from Bengaluru to Whitefield, which he said is progressing well.
Highlighting the success of Vande Bharat trains, Vaishnav said that routes like Bengaluru to Chennai, Madurai and Hyderabad have recorded more than 100% occupancy. “The Bengaluru-Chennai route has witnessed 120% occupancy, which shows that people are liking the service,” he said.
