Responding to the plight of around 40,000 passengers, the South-Western Railways (SWR) has set itself a nine-month deadline to provide improved services at the Yeshwanthpur station.
SWR Divisional Railway Manager (Bangalore), Sudhanshu Mani said various ‘developmental activities’ will be taken up on the disputed 3.2 acre of land along Tumkur Road, the possession of which is finally with the railways.
“This land will be jointly developed by the SWR, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) within the next couple of months. The entry point to the station will be widened. We will also allot a huge space for parking,” he said. However, the fate of 0.5 acre of land on the same side is still pending before the court.
The station was under severe criticism from the passengers who use the station on a daily basis over lack of basic amenities at the station. Deccan Herald had highlighted about poor facilities at the station on Sunday’s edition.
Facilities at the entry point on the Yeshwantpur market side would also be improved. “This issue has to be sorted out with the help of BBMP as the road leading to the station is congested. We are even planning to demolish the old building spread over 3,000 square metre to provide ample parking facility and once that is done, nearly 800 four-wheelers can be parked,” Mani added.
Apart from this, the station will have new ticket counters, LCD reservation screens, business lounge with internet connection and new foot over bridge connecting platform number three to six. There are plans to recycle four lakh litres of water which goes waste everyday by having water treatment plant and the same will be used for washing coaches. To make the platforms congestion-free, the parcel complex will be shifted to the far end of platform six. The construction of modern food plaza by IRCTC would commence very soon.
With 25 trains originating and terminating and 50 others using station daily, the growth of passengers and users at the station has increased by 25 per cent compared to the last year.