An assurance to facilitate travel to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) by creating a new railway station near the trumpet flyover was also made by Union Minister of State for Railways, K H Muniyappa, on the occasion.
He waved the green flag at 10.50 am along with State Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar, MLAs Shobha Karandlaje and Dinesh Gundu Rao and Tumkur MP Basavaraju to launch the Yeshwantpur-Devanahalli-Yeshwantpur Special (YD-1) from platform six. At 11.28 am, another special, Yeshwantpur-Hosur-Yeshwantpur Special (YH-1) was also flagged off from here.
Connectivity to airport
Briefing mediapersons after the first launch, Muniyappa assured arrangements would be in place within six months to ensure connectivity to the BIA by rail and buses.
“To connect Devanahalli station to the airport, a new railway station would be constructed very near the airport close to the trumpet exchange. We will ensure that all suburban trains in this route would have a stopover at this station.”
General Manager, South Western Railway, Kuldeep Chaturvedi said time was required to conduct a survey at the spot first and then develop the infrastructure.
Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar said the State government was also contemplating steps to introduce direct buses from Devanahalli railway station to the airport.
Works on underpass
Muniyappa also promised that the Railways will take steps to ensure connectivity by circular rail network around the City. Steps to complete the underpass work of the ITC bridge flyover near Cox Town would be expedited, he added.
While two different trains were used on Tuesday to facilitate flagging off along different routes, only a single diesel train with five coaches, all second class, will be in operation from Wednesday.
The diesel train would undertake two trips to Hosur from Yeshwantpur, one in the morning and another in the evening. The trip to and from Devanahalli will be sandwiched in between.
DH News Service
Train fare on suburban services
Cost of tickets on routes
Per ticket Monthly season ticket
YPR to Hosur: Rs 11 Rs 225
YPR to Anekal: Rs 9 Rs 190
YPR to Devanahalli: Rs 6 Rs 145