Title - Rail Budget 2013: Bangalore gets 7 new express trains

BANGALORE: It's a big smiley for Karnataka and IT City: Of the nine new express trains, seven will connect Bangalore.

The new trains are: Bangalore-Mangalore Express (weekly); Mangalore- Kacheguda Express (weekly) via Dhone, Gooty, Renigunta, Coimbatore; Nagercoil-Bangalore Express (daily) via Madurai, Tiruchirappalli; Patna-Bangalore Express (weekly) via Chheoki ; Kamakhya (Guwahati)-Bangalore AC Express (weekly); Jabalpur-Yeshwantpur Express (weekly) via Nagpur, Dharmavaram; Hubli-Mumbai Express (weekly) via Miraj, Pune; Bangalore-Marikuppam (now made a daily train); and Yeshwantpur-Lucknow Express (weekly) via Pratapgarh.Despite this, there are many towns which are not linked to Bangalore. The rail system which would have reduced travel time from the suburbs to the central business district and help reduce congestion on Bangalore's roads is progressing at a snail's pace, awaiting line doubling and electrification . Only the Tumkur-Arasikere line and Shoranur-Mangalore (third line) are to be doubled according to the budget. The Bangalore-Satyamangalam line, pending for want of funds and clearances, will be taken up on priority. The state government has agreed to give land free of cost and bear half the project cost. Bangalore is one of seven stations to have an executive lounge on platforms for tourists.The electrification of the Yelahanka-Someshwara rail route, and lines to be taken up between Shettihalli and Maddur, will benefit traders and residents of these areas, besides those who commute to the city for work. The budget has addressed the needs of techies from Bihar and UP, MP, Madurai and Mangalore, with new trains from Bangalore.