Pramesh S Jain
The Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic spirit at the Railway Ground,MG Railway Colony, Bengaluru,today.
Divisional Railway Manager,Ashutosh Kumar Singh unfurled the National Flag and inspected the parade comprising contingents of the Railway Protection Force (RPF),students,Scouts & Guides,and others.
On the occasion,School students presented cultural programmes.
Speaking on the occasion,the DRM highlighted the Division’s major achievements in safety,infrastructure, operations,passenger services,digitalisation and sustainability.
He said that the sectional speed has been raised to 130 kmph on the 161-km Yelahanka–Dharmavaram stretch.
Nine level crossings have been eliminated,13 Road Under Bridges have been commissioned,and nearly 174 km of safety fencing has been completed.
The Division achieved its highest-ever freight loading of 2,681 rakes(2.13 million tonnes) in 2025–26,an increase of over 20%,and carried nearly 110 million passengers, generating passenger revenue of Rs.2,429 crore.
Connectivity was enhanced by speeding up 106 trains, operating 4,706 special train trips,and introducing two new Vande Bharat services—Belagavi–Bengaluru and Bengaluru–Ernakulam—along with an Amrit Bharat train, taking the total number of Vande Bharat services serving the Division to nine.
Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme,18 stations are being developed across the Bengaluru Division.
In addition,Bengaluru Cantonment Station is being redeveloped at a cost of Rs.485 crore, while Yesvantpur Station is being developed at a cost of Rs.378 crore.
He said the Bengaluru Division has undertaken around 30,000 tree plantations as part of Bengaluru’s Mega Tree Plantation Drive.Renewable energy is being given special emphasis.
A 100 kWp solar power plant has been commissioned, while another 8 MW of solar projects are under execution.
Later,prizes were distributed to the winners of various competitions organised as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign.
On the occasion,the South Western Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation (SWRWWO),Bengaluru Division, distributed fruits,bread and other nutritious food items to patients at the Divisional Railway Hospital,Bengaluru.
The event was attended by Additional Divisional Managers -Parikshit Mohanpuria and Praveen Kataraki; Senior Divisional Security Commissioner,Shreyans Chinchwade; Senior Divisional Personnel Officer Smt Uma Sharma;President,SWRWWO, Bengaluru Division, Smt.Reena Singh;senior officers,staff members, family members,representatives of the South Western Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation,recognised trade unions and other associations.
