New look, more platforms for KSR Bengaluru; two new terminals for city

Bengaluru: KSR Bengaluru, the busiest railway station in Karnataka, will breathe easy with a Rs 1,500-crore redevelopment plan and the addition of two platforms costing Rs 180 crore, Minister of State for Railways V Somanna said here on Thursday.

The minister also proposed the construction of two new railway terminals — one at Devanahalli and the other at either Nelamangala, Magadi or Ramanagara — to meet Bengaluru’s growing passenger demand.

Addressing reporters, Somanna emphasised the need to augment the city’s railway infrastructure and reduce congestion at existing stations. The railways plans to address this by building more platforms at KSR Bengaluru and Yeshwantpur, constructing new terminals, and redeveloping KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur and Bengaluru Cantonment.

“Hyderabad recently got a new railway terminal at Charlapalli. Bengaluru also needs new terminals to handle the increasing number of passengers. We initially considered Whitefield but land is not available there. We plan to build a terminal in Devanahalli on 400 acres of land. We are also looking to build another terminal in Ramanagara, Magadi or Nelamangala,” he explained.

Somanna stated that the KSR Bengaluru would be redeveloped in a public-private partnership, and the Rs 1,500-crore project would be approved soon.

In addition, the Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the construction of two more platforms at the station for Rs 180 crore. KSR Bengaluru currently has 10 platforms.

The two new platforms will be constructed by demolishing a part of MG Railway Colony. A fourth entrance has also been planned there, according to officials.

Somanna also highlighted the need to to build more platforms at Yeshwantpur to avoid train detentions. There are six platforms in Yeshwantpur.

Under the redevelopment plan, KSR Bengaluru will get a nine-story station building, an air concourse, separate arrivals and departures, and multi-level parking, among other facilities.

KSR Bengaluru is Karnataka’s only Grade 1 railway station. It handles an average of 189 trains per day and serves 1.9 lakh passengers. In 2023-24, it earned Rs 803.76 crore from originating passengers.

Yeshwantpur and Bengaluru Cantonment stations are currently undergoing redevelopment.

The Devanahalli terminal is planned between Bullahalli and KG Gururayanahosuru villages, near the Venkatagiri Kote Halt station. It will have 16 platforms, 20 stabling lines and 10 pit lines, officials said.

Meanwhile, Somanna said, the proposal to build a 287-km Bengaluru Circular Railway was also on track, and the detailed project report (DPR) was under preparation. The circular railway will be integrated with the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), he added.