The suburban rail connectivity between Banaswadi and Whitefield has received a boost following the introduction of a special DEMU train on Sunday (3 February), New Indian Express has reported.

The train decked up with garlands and other decorative apparatus was flagged off at Whitefield railway station by Bengaluru Central’s Member of Parliament P C Mohan.

The train is scheduled to run six days a week from Monday to Saturday. It would leave Whitefield at 7.50 am and reach Banaswadi at 8.30 am. For its return journey, it would leave Banaswadi at 6.25 pm and return back to Whitefield at 7.20 pm.

These timings were met with criticism from various quarters but the Western Railways has decided to go ahead with them. The train will halt at Hoodi Halt, Krishnarajapuram and Baiyappanahalli.

It was earlier reported that the Karnataka government has approved four long-pending corridors of the Bengaluru suburban rail.

The four routes are Kengri to Whitefield, KSR Bengaluru to Rajanakunte, Nelamangala to Baiyappanahalli and Hillagere to Baiyappanahalli.

The cost of the project is said to be around Rs 23,093 crore.