Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Feb 23: Railway minister Piyush Goyal said that the Train 18, recently renamed as Vande Bharat Express, will also be introduced on the Mangaluru-Chennai and Mangaluru-Hyderabad routes.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, February 23, during an interaction here, Goyal said the high-speed train is one of its kind developed with indigenous technology.

"We will introduce it on routes connecting major cities. An indigenously developed automatic signaling system will also be installed on these routes," he said.

“Karnataka has agreed to meet the terms of Indian Railways for building the 161 km Bengaluru suburban project at Rs 23,000 crore,” he informed.

"The project envisages building 82 stations with 12 inter-changes for the metro service in six years, and provides connectivity to the international airport as required for the special purpose vehicle (SPV)," Goyal added. He had met the chief minister H D Kumaraswamy before that.

The Ministry of Railways had, however, agreed to grant its land for the project at a nominal lease of Rs 1 per acre, reducing the cost by 30 per cent and saving Rs 6,700 crore.

The 119 conditions of the state government were acting as road blocks for commencing the suburban rail project in India's tech hub, bedeviled by grid locks, land shortage and other infrastructure woes.

"The state cabinet will meet on February 25 to approve our 19 conditions by the state government through a special resolution," said Goyal.

"The state government has also agreed for the right of FSI '5' on railway land to the railways for financing the project," said Goyal.

The air-conditioned EMU (Electrical Multiple Unit) rake is planned for suburban corridor to facilitate safe and comfortable journey to the denizens.

"The suburban rail service is much cheaper than other modes of transport like metro and bus, besides easing traffic congestion plaguing the city," Goyal added.

The minister also said that Wi-Fi facility will be extended to all railway stations within next six months.

(With IANS inputs)