Bangalore: Commuters from Bangalore to Hosur and points along the way are happy about the elevated road planned between Silk Board junction and Electronics City and the six-lane road up to Hosur.

But they also want suburban trains on the Bangalore-Salem section at least as a stopgap arrangement when the two mega projects are taken up. They point out that during the construction period of 24 to 36 months, commuters to Electronics City or industries in Hosur will face a difficult time.

What they suggest is the running of suburban trains on two routes — one from City Station and one from Yeshwantpur. During peak hours, feeder bus services can be run from Heelige to Electronics City and back and to Attibele, Anekal and Hosur.

According to D. Ravi Shankar, an engineer of Jayanagar who commutes regularly on this route, if the suburban train service is introduced on a regular basis, it can benefit the staff of industries who live in areas such as Yeshwanthpur, Hebbal and Malleswaran and who commute daily to Bommasandra and Hosur. The suburban trains may ease the congestion on city roads and the highway. They will help patients and their families going to Narayana Hrudayalaya.

Mr. Ravi Shaankar, who has made a detailed study of the passenger traffic along this route, points out to the fact how lack of drainage made Hosur Road impassable for days together. "Perhaps, Chandapura which is on the roads connecting Bangalore with Hosur and Anekal can become in future an inter-modal transport hub. The track between Hosur and Bangalore can be doubled and electrified and fast trains with air-conditioned coaches run even up to Salem and points in between," he said.

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