Bengaluru: Thanisandra is set to host a Vande Bharat sleeper depot, with South Western Railway (SWR) recently issuing notification to acquire nearly 14 hectares of private land in and around the northern part of the city.If objections filed by the public are looked into and resolved, depot construction can begin within six months and be completed in 30 months at a cost of Rs 228 crore. The cost is mostly for the maintenance of the recently introduced Vande Bharat sleeper trains. Currently, only two VB sleeper rakes operate commercially in the country, with two more rakes likely to be engaged for the launch of much-anticipated Bengaluru-Mumbai route in Aug.Over the next few years, railways expects more than 100 VB sleeper rakes to be delivered by public and private manufacturers, highlighting the need for a dedicated maintenance facility. “Land acquisition (for the Thanisandra depot) process has begun. Public can submit objections before July 26 to the competent authority for land acquisition,” a senior SWR official said.According to the official gazette notification published in June, SWR proposes to acquire 14 plots along both sides of the railway line close to Thanisandra railway station. Some plots currently notified are residential, with some being apartments as well. “It (depot) is being built mostly on railway land, the notification is floated only for a small parcel of private land,” the official added.The facility will also have stabling lines, workshop infrastructure, utility services, approach roads, and service roads. SWR has stated the land could be used for other railway-related purposes as well. Earlier this year, Hyderabad-based Power Mech Projects was awarded the tender to construct the depot. The company expects work to begin early next year.
