Bengaluru new rail terminal has world-class facilities, without extra costs

The new railway terminal is set to be operational soon

A ticket counter reserved for the differently abled. DH FILE PHOTO/Pushkar V

A foot overbridge connects the terminal to platforms. DH FILE PHOTO/Pushkar V

The swanky platform 1 with entry into the terminal. DH FILE PHOTO/Pushkar V

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The Sir M Visvesvaraya terminal, to be commissioned in a few days’ time, will have all the facilities of an international airport minus the additional costs.

Naresh Salecha, Member (Finance), Railway Board and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India. who visited the terminal on Saturday, said the facility will be open for railway passengers without additional charges like the user development fee (UDF).

The total cost of the Visvesvaraya terminal is estimated at Rs 314 crore.

The 4,200 sqm concourse building with a completely air-conditioned lounge and special waiting rooms will be maintained by the Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC).

Once commissioned, the terminal will take the load off the Yeshwantpur and Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna stations, paving way for the introduction of more trains.

The terminal can be accessed from Dodda Banaswadi Road and Swami Vivekananda Road. The state government’s delay in providing NGEF land has delayed the plan to connect the existing railway and metro stations at Baiyappanahalli with the new terminal.