Union minister Somanna proposes two new railway terminals near Bengaluru; suburban rail deadline pushed to March 2027

"We require more railway terminals in a city like Bengaluru, which draws people from across the country for work," he said.

"Due to insufficient land availability towards the Whitefield side, our focus is on developing terminals in Devanahalli and Nelamangala, each requiring at least 400 acres."

Railway officials have identified land near Venkatagiri Kote Halt station in Devanahalli for the proposed mega terminal. The terminal is planned to feature 16 platforms, 20 stabling lines, 10 pit lines, and other facilities.

Somanna also announced plans for constructing two additional platforms at KSR Bengaluru City station at a cost of Rs 180 crore. He said Bengaluru Cantonment and Yeswantpur stations will get world-class facilities upon completion of their redevelopment.

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Further, he said that redevelopment of KSR Bengaluru City railway station is being taken under PPP model at a cost of Rs 1200 crore.

"A circular railway project spanning 280 km around Bengaluru is in the planning stages to mitigate congestion," he said. Somanna added that steps would be taken to rename Bellandur Road railway station to Panathur.

He assured that Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) and SWR are committed to overcoming challenges in the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP).

Somanna said that two suburban rail corridors—Benniganahalli to Chikkabanavara (25 km) and Heelalige to Rajanukunte (46.8 km)—will be completed by March 2027. Originally slated for completion within 72 months from its approval in October 2020, the project received its foundation stone from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2022. Modi had said that the project, which had been pending for 40 years, would be completed within 40 months.

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He said the doubling of the Hosur-Salem line via Yeswantpur and Byappanahalli-Hosur line is scheduled for completion by August 2025. "The quadrupling of the Bengaluru Cantonment-Whitefield section is on track to be completed by June 2025. K-RIDE has commissioned one vent of the Panathur Railway Underpass (RUB), and the second vent is set to become operational by January 2025."

Somanna acknowledged challenges such as rainwater drainage and stressed the need for infrastructure improvements, including Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), underpasses, and water vents, to ease traffic flow and water management.

"The railways will bear 100 percent of the cost for ROB works to expedite completion, instead of the earlier 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement with state governments," he said.