South Western Railway (SWR) on September 25 refuted a viral video’s claim that a train was stuck in Bengaluru traffic.
An Instagram user shared a video showing a train stopped at the Munnekollal rail level crossing near Marathahalli in East Bengaluru. The user captioned it: "Just Bengaluru things. Not just me or you, even trains can’t escape Bengaluru traffic." The video went viral, evoking plenty of reactions.
However, SWR officials told Moneycontrol that the video’s claim was incorrect. A senior SWR official clarified that it was 12257 Yeswantpur–Kochuveli Garib Rath Express involved in the incident on September 24.
Also, read: Two Bengaluru suburban rail corridors to be ready by Dec 2026: Railways MoS V Somanna
"Train no. 12557 was stopped by the loco pilot before LC (Level Crossing) 133 on September 24 between Byappanahalli and Carmelaram for an inspection. The crew (assistant loco pilot and train manager) checked the rake after the loco pilot heard a hitting sound" said a SWR official.
"The train did not stop due to a traffic jam but it was halted by the loco pilot for inspection. To prevent road traffic congestion, LC gate was opened by the gateman. After the rake inspection and closure of LC gate, train resumed its journey," the official explained.
The official added that the construction of a rail under bridge at this LC is part of the Bengaluru suburban rail project.
The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) is planning to eliminate 26 railway-level crossings by constructing Rail Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs). K-RIDE, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), will execute the project as part of the proposed 149-km Bengaluru suburban rail network.
The construction of ROBs and RUBs at level crossing gates will ensure uninterrupted road traffic flow. Currently, motorists wait 15-20 minutes at these manned crossings. While SWR and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had earlier planned ROBs/RUBs in areas like Kaggadasapura, Nagawara, and Jakkur, the projects were delayed due to land acquisition issues, financial constraints, and legal hurdles.
Also, read: Relief from traffic jams? 26 Bengaluru railway crossings to be eliminated
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