Faster train trips to Tamil Nadu as Bellandur, Huskur stations in Bengaluru cut delays

Bengaluru: Rail travel towards Tamil Nadu just got quicker, according to South Western Railway (SWR). The two new crossing stations at Belandur Road and Huskur have eased the bottleneck on the single-track corridor, promising faster trains and fewer delays for passengers, it says.Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Company Limited (K-RIDE) project is part of the ongoing Rs 498-crore doubling project between Byyappanahalli and Hosur. Though work started in June 2020, only 14km of the 48-km double-track has been commissioned to date. The 3.5-km path between Carmelaram and Belandur Road was also commissioned last Tuesday, following inspections by the commissioner of railway safety."Earlier, two trains were handled between Byyappanahalli and Heelalige, and after doubling, four trains can be accommodated in this section, resulting in improved capacity utilisation. Freight trains to Hosur, Dharmapuri, and Sivadi can be regulated at Belandur Road. Earlier, these trains were regulated in the KSR area, creating congestion," an SWR official said."Before the commissioning of the project, the trains arriving from Byyappanahalli had to be cleared to pass till Heelalige (near Bommasandra). Now, the Belandur Road station has five tracks, and Huskur has four," Rajesh Kumar Singh, director (project and planning), K-RIDE, told TOI.Along with this, the long-neglected Belandur Road station has been revamped and is expected to improve efficiency for trains running along the route. Currently, the station features a new entrance building, upgraded platforms, tactile pathways, and a functioning lift aimed at senior passengers.The slow-moving corridor has always been a source of frustration for passengers due to long wait times. Even the high-priority Vande Bharat Express running on this route takes around 25 minutes to reach KSR Bengaluru station from KR Pura. Officials state that the new Huskur crossing station with crossing tracks will primarily be used to ensure the smooth flow of freight traffic."This will definitely benefit when the line capacity is increased. You can introduce more trains and manage them. Already, there is a lot of demand for more trains towards Coimbatore and parts of Kerala," said Prakash Mandoth, former member of SWR's railway users consultative committee.According to SWR officials, the full commissioning of the Byyappanahalli–Belandur Road and Heelalige–Anekal Road stretches will also create space to expand Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services, which are in high demand among daily commuters travelling between Bengaluru and Hosur.

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