Suresh Prabhu allocates just Rs. 3 crore for Rs. 116 crore Byappanahalli terminal proposal

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has earmarked a mere Rs 3 crore for Bengaluru's ambitious project of a third coaching terminal at Byappanahalli, disappointing Bengalureans and exposing the failure of the three BJP MPs from the city in securing generous support for the project.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described the budget as disappointing and said none of Karnataka's projects had been considered except a suburban rail system for Bengaluru.

The Byappanahalli project is critical for the city as the two existing railway terminals at Bengaluru City and Yeshwantpur are congested and only a third terminal can support introduction of new services from the city .The proposed terminal is estimated to cost Rs 116 crore and has not progressed ever since Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda made noise about it in his stint as te Railway Minister two years ago.

South Western Railway (SWR) officials were hoping to get about Rs 30 crore to get the project off the ground. The SWR officials, however, are putting a brave front. 'This is enough for us to start the tendering process,' said Ashok Gupta, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), SWR, Bengaluru.

The SWR construction wing has sent a proposal to Rail Bhavan to take up the Byppanahalli project either with own funds or with the help of extra-budgetary resources. 'We will try to get the extra funds by approaching the Railway Board. The project estimate has not gone up and is very well within its limit of Rs 116 crore,' Gupta said.

According to officials connected with the operations, all the planning is over for the proposed terminal and the construction authorities could have commenced the project this year if the funds had been allocated.

ET