Bengaluru’s Yelahanka may get China-style elevated railway terminal

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Yelahanka in north Bengaluru is likely to get a China (Hangzhou)-style elevated railway terminal, with South Western Railway (SWR) proposing an airport-like, multi-level mega coaching terminal, sources told Moneycontrol.

Planned partially on Railway Wheel Factory (RWF) land in Yelahanka, the proposed terminal would become Bengaluru’s fourth railway terminal after KSR Bengaluru City, Yeswantpur and Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal at Byappanahalli. The fourth terminal was earlier proposed at Devanahalli but was later shifted to Yelahanka to utilise available railway land.

The terminal is planned over about 20 acres and may have 16 platforms. Of this, around 15 acres will be taken from the total 192 acres of RWF land, about two acres of private land, along with the use of existing Yelahanka station yard and RWF staff quarters. The current Yelahanka station has five platforms. The terminal is likely to have 10 stabling lines and 15 pit lines.

First fully elevated coaching terminal in India

“We are proposing an airport-like railway terminal with five levels - a basement, ground floor, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 - featuring a concourse, mezzanine floor, platforms and an underground basement. Train tracks will run at the basement and ground-floor levels. This will be the country’s first fully elevated railway terminal,” a senior South Western Railway (SWR) official told Moneycontrol.

Vertical development driven by high land costs

According to officials, the push for vertical development is driven by high land costs in Bengaluru. “In a city like Bengaluru, land is very expensive, so vertical development makes more sense. We are also exploring revenue generation through commercial development. This is the first time railway tracks themselves are being elevated,” the official said.

Metro integration and airport-like access

The terminal will be integrated with the nearest Metro station at Kogilu Cross (Blue Line) and connected through an elevated road. The main station entrance will be from Yelahanka-Doddaballapur highway.

Segregated passenger movement to ease congestion

The design includes segregated passenger movement to reduce congestion. “Arriving and departing passengers will move on separate levels, ensuring unidirectional flow and avoiding cross-movement that causes crowding at conventional stations,” the official explained.

Hangzhou-inspired design for future traffic

Under the plan, arriving passengers will alight at the minus-one level and exit through a lower basement, while departing passengers will enter through the concourse, access ticketing and waiting areas, and then proceed to the platforms.

Officials said the design is inspired by the Hangzhou railway terminal in China, which optimises limited urban space through vertical planning. “North Bengaluru is witnessing massive development activity. This terminal will cater to future traffic growth and help decongest existing stations,” the official said.

Rs 6,000-crore project

In addition to RWF land and the existing station yard, the project may require about three acres from a private firm and land from Yelahanka railway quarters. The estimated cost is around Rs 6,000 crore, and the project is likely to be taken up under a public-private partnership (PPP) or Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model.

“The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board. Once approvals come through, we will take it forward,” the official added.

Proposal yet to be sanctioned

Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ashutosh K Singh told Moneycontrol, “The proposed railway terminal in Yelahanka is still at a nascent stage and is yet to be sanctioned by the Railway Board. Land values in Bengaluru are high, but there is a need for a mega terminal to cater to growing passenger traffic.”