The rail connectivity should have been operational decades ago but for the myopia of a few. Track was laid about 10 km away from Nelamangala (near Gollahalli) and the villagers apprehended that youths would go astray with the advent of train facility. They even succeeded in getting the route shifted.
The Railways Department had spent crores of rupees to lay track, erect signal posts, construct computerised booking counter, platform, seating arrangement for travelling public, staff quarters etc.
All the necessary paraphernalia were in place except the train. Neither the people nor their representatives bothered to run the train. Meanwhile, the staff quarters became a den of illegal activities, the windows and the doors were stolen and the sheet-roof of the platform shattered to pieces.
Realisation dawned on the Railways recently and it refurbished all the infrastructure. It has now been proposed to run an intercity train between Bangalore and Nelamangala. Railway Safety Commissioner A G S Naidu told Deccan Herald that the track is fit for commercial operation and soon trains would be operated to Nelamangala via Malleswaram, Yeshwantpur and Banavar.
The new railway station is located about two km away from the bus stand and hence there is a need to extend the bus services up to the railway station. At least buses should be provided during the arrival of trains to facilitate passengers. It takes at least two hours to reach Nelamangala, 27 km from Bangalore, on road. The train covers the distance in about 30 minutes and at cheaper fare as well.