South Western Railways, on Thursday, announced eight new suburban train services, which will increase connectivity to the IT corridor and other parts of the city.

The services will be operated between Baiyappanahalli and Whitefield, Baiyappanahalli and Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Station, and Hosur and Banaswadi through Heelahalige. The Railways will deploy both MEMUs and DMUs for the operations.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal reviewed the physical survey being conducted for a detailed feasibility report for the much-hyped Bengaluru suburban railway project. The Railways is using LiDAR (Light detection and ranging) technology through drones to prepare the report. A.K. Gupta, general manager of SWR, said it will take six months to complete the exercise.

Mechanised laundry

The Minister inaugurated a 10-tonne capacity mechanised laundry at KSR Bengaluru station. The new facility will be used to provide clean linens to passengers travelling from Bengaluru and Yeshwantpur stations.

Replying to a question on the proposed Thalaserry to Mysuru rail line, which is being opposed in Karnataka, especially in the Kodagu region, the Minister said the Railways can do a feasibility report only if the Karnataka government gives permission.