Railway stations in the City are set for a facelift with additional facilities.
While Bangalore City Railway Station will soon get an additional building and a foot-over-bridge (FOB) connecting platforms 1 to 10; Yelahanka Railway Station will get additional platforms, a foot over bridge, another building and escalators costing Rs 12 crore.
Bangalore Divisional Railways Manager (DRM) A K Agarwal said in addition, construction of the building at a cost of Rs 3 crore has already begun and there would be 10-12 ticket booking counters, waiting halls, and parking facility for the convenience of passengers at the City railway station.
The railways have set up current reservation display systems which will enable passengers to know the seat availability even after the preparations of final charts at Bangalore City Railway Station and Yeshwanthpur Railway Station, Agarwal said.
Four to five LCDs are being put for advance reservations and the passengers will be able to see the availability of seats in specific trains and destinations 60 days in advance.
Row over land
Officials of Railways and BBMP are squabbling over a piece of land in K R Puram which belongs to the former and required by BBMP for widening the road. While an MoU was signed, till date the two agencies have not been able to arrive at an agreement.
Railways officials claim they have already handed over one part of the land. While the other has about two dozen residential quarter housing the railway staff, it is BBMP which has not honoured the MoU. Agarwal said many meetings have been held to sort this matter out but nothing has moved in a positive direction.
Mayor B S Sathyanarayna said “from our end there is no problem. We have handed over the land to railways. If there is an issue, railway officials can contact us directly.”
Tourism award
Agarwal said Union Ministry of Tourism recently presented the National Tourism Award to Bangalore City Railway Station in the category of “Most Tourist-Friendly Railway Station” for 2012-13. The station bagged this award for having facilities like escalators, battery operated ferry carts, subway lifts, emergency medical facility and for providing other facilities for passengers.
The station is equipped with facilities such as 3 Non-AC and 2 AC waiting halls, 2 paid lounges, 13 Non-AC and 17 AC Retiring Rooms including deluxe & ultra-deluxe category, 66 bedded dormitories, information kiosks, battery operated ferry carts, subway lifts & escalators, emergency medical facility, dedicated windows for senior citizens and differently abled etc.
