JOIN USA 170 km suburban rail network for Bengaluru, electrification of major lines and completion of new lines in Gadag, Bagalkot and Raichur sections are some of the demands placed by railway activists.
Members of Karnataka Railway Vedike Krishna Prasad and T P Lokesh said the railways should implement the suburban rail system as envisaged in the detailed project report prepared by RITES.
Krishna Prasad said, "For a successful suburban network, we need doubling and electrification of major lines in the city, especially Yashwantpur-Banaswadi-Hosur line which is yet to be sanctioned. The railways should give priority to commuter trains for the larger benefit of people".
The activists said the Gadag-Wadi line, sanctioned nearly five years ago, is yet to be completed. "Work on Kudachi-Bagalkot, Ginigera-Raichur-Mahabubnagar and Tumakuru-Rayadurga lines should be expedited to put an end to bus lobby," he said.
Lokesh said a letter has been submitted to the South Western Railway in December listing out the demands. "Some of these projects have been pending for years as are the trains. We hope the railways will help the people of the state this time," he added.
Demands galore
Trains
* A daily superfast train from Bengaluru to Mumbai via Hubballi
* A daily train between Hosapete and Bengaluru via Ballari
* Increasing the frequency of Yashwantpur-Harihar from triweekly to daily
* Diverting Bengaluru-Karwar train via Shravanabelagola daily
* Overnight train on Bengaluru-Hubballi-Belagavi-Miraj line
Projects
* A division in Kalaburagi as announced in 2013-14 budget
* Speedy completion of doubling of Arasikere-Tumkuru, Chikkajajur-Hubballi, Londa-Miraj, Hospet-Londa and Gadag-Hotgi and Yalahanka-Penukonda lines
* Electrification of Bengaluru-Hubballi line