The renovation works, going on for three years at Yeshwantpur railway station, are causing grave hardships to the passengers.
Credit: DH photo
Bengaluru: Yeshwantpur Junction, established in 1881 by Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, plays a crucial role in alleviating congestion at the KSR Bengaluru railway station and enhancing urban transportation. Over the years, it has evolved into a major junction on key routes, including Bengaluru-Pune and Bengaluru-Hyderabad.
Currently, the station is undergoing significant renovations, which have persisted for nearly three years. Unfortunately, this construction has rendered many essential amenities unusable, including waiting halls, toilets and medical rooms.
The remaining public toilets are in deplorable condition due to overuse, and the platforms are not much better, suffering from numerous cracks and potholes that pose safety hazards.
In an effort to address the situation temporarily, shipping containers have been converted into waiting rooms, albeit with limited ventilation. These containers are situated outside the station, near the back entrance, which defeats the purpose of a waiting area that should ideally be close to the platforms for passenger convenience. As a result, many travellers have resorted to camping on the platforms, making the environment feel overcrowded and uncomfortable. While many of these issues can be attributed to ongoing construction, concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of escalators, slopes, or lifts in the skywalk, making accessibility difficult.
Yeshwantpur Junction has six platforms, with 51 trains originating and terminating there, in addition to 68 trains that stop briefly. The station’s strategic location near the Yeshwantpur metro station and the nearby BMTC bus station enhances its connectivity, supported by a range of auto rickshaws and taxis available in the area. However, the railway station remains unconnected with the metro station across the road, as authorities dilly-dally on constructing the promised foot overbridge.
Meanwhile, a flyover bridge is being constructed to connect to the forthcoming railway parking near the main entrance. This structure has inadvertently become a resting place for commuters seeking shade, as it offers better amenities in the vicinity, such as restaurants, hotels, public washrooms, and security.
The influx of passengers camping on the platforms has led to several cases of theft at the station. But overall, theft cases at the station have significantly reduced between 2023 and 2025, said Yathish N, Railway Superintendent of Police.
So far, in 2025, the station saw 39 cases of theft, compared to 90 cases in 2023 and 69 in 2024, he said.
The Railway Board has declined to approve the South Western Railway’s proposal to build four new platforms by shifting the track machine depot. The new platforms - two each for passenger and suburban trains - were aimed at eliminating wait times for trains and creating space for new services.