Railway board approves survey for mega coaching terminal near Bengaluru airport

North Bengaluru

Railway Board has sanctioned the Final Location Survey (FLS) for a proposed mega coaching terminal near Bengaluru airport.

“The terminal will come up near Devanahalli station or at any suitable location along the Yelahanka–Devanahalli–Chikkaballapur corridor. Sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 1.35 crore, this aims to decongest Bengaluru’s saturated railway infrastructure and meet the rising demand for passenger services in the region,” said a statement from South Western Railway (SWR).

The proposed terminal at Devanahalli will function as a fourth major terminal which will redistribute traffic and enhance operational flexibility. The facility will include 12 pit lines, 5 washing lines (ACWP-equipped), 24 stabling lines, 6 heavy repair bay lines, 2 pit wheel lathe lines, and 6 sick lines, along with supporting infrastructure such as loco bays, a 50-tonne boot laundry, administrative buildings, and stores.

“With the capacity to handle 36 rakes per day, the terminal is poised to significantly boost Bengaluru’s railway maintenance and traffic-handling capabilities,” the statement added.

With a population of around 11.5 million, Bengaluru ranks as India’s fifth most populous metropolitan region. Its railway network currently operates with only three terminals and 12 pit lines, managing 140 originating, 139 terminating, and 142 pass-through trains daily, along with 110 primary maintenance trains.

“In 2024–25, the city witnessed 103.72 million originating passengers and a total footfall of 212.06 million. The existing terminals—KSR Bengaluru, Yeswantpur, and SMVT Bengaluru—are already operating at capacity. Future projections of 210 originating trains per day could potentially overwhelm the system,” the release said.

The railway network faces multiple operational bottlenecks: fully utilised pit lines, overcrowded platforms, frequent train delays, high empty rake movements due to insufficient stabling lines, and the absence of a dedicated goods corridor. “Urban density has made expansion at existing sites nearly impossible. While short-term steps such as train rerouting and terminal shifts have been implemented, long-term solutions are crucial,” the release added.