BJP leader and member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya has sought a high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru and Mumbai, saying it will not only improve connectivity in the region but also give the local economy a boost.
"A high-speed rail corridor connecting Bengaluru, Hubballi, Pune, and Mumbai will greatly benefit North Karnataka and strengthen the region’s connectivity and economy," the Bengaluru South MP said in a statement on May 16, talking about the issues he raised a day earlier in a parliamentary committee meeting.
Surya, a member of the Public Accounts Committee, said no new direct trains have been introduced between Bengaluru and Mumbai in the last 30 years. The Udyan Express was the only rail option for thousands of travellers, forcing many to opt for air travel, which was more expensive.
He made his disappointment known over several railway lines continuing to run at barely 25 percent capacity, and the long-standing demand for a major express train between Bengaluru and Mumbai was being ignored.
Surya reiterated his demand that the railways immediately introduce a new Superfast Express between Bengaluru and Mumbai to cater to the growing number of passengers and support the economies of both cities.
He also expressed serious concern over the slow progress and poor coordination between the railways and the state government in implementing key projects for Bengaluru.
"While only a couple of tenders have been finalised, most corridors remain stuck, causing delays to a project that is crucial for easing the city’s traffic and providing affordable transport to lakhs of daily commuters," he said.
He also raised several pending issues, including the need for suburban rail network expansion, doubling of critical lines, improvement of station infrastructure and better connectivity between railway and metro stations in the city.
He urged the railways to act without further delay. Surya said would continue to raise these concerns with the railway ministry and push for swift action to ensure Bengaluru and Karnataka receive the infrastructure long promised to them.
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