The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride) is considering the construction of two suburban rail stations within Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) premises as part of the Bengaluru suburban rail network expansion.
Project Overview:
- K-Ride proposes constructing a line from Majestic to Devanahalli, covering a total distance of 48 km.
- The line will consist of 21 km elevated and 27 km at-grade corridors.
- Approximately 6 km of the line will traverse through KIA premises.
- One station will be integrated with the Multi-Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) near Terminal-2, while the other will cater to airport workers.
- Consultations are ongoing with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) regarding the station locations and their integration with other transport modes on the airport premises.
Implementation Plan:
- K-Ride plans to execute the suburban rail link to Devanahalli in two phases.
- The first phase involves constructing the line between Majestic and Yelahanka.
- The second phase encompasses the stretch from Yelahanka to Devanahalli, including the airport link.
- Alignment plans have been submitted to the South Western Railway (SWR) for approval.
- SWR announced the doubling of the line between Yelahanka and Devanahalli, a stretch commissioned in 1915. K-Ride revised the alignment to incorporate track doubling.
Project Prioritization:
- Initially sanctioned by the central government in 2020, the 148-km suburban rail project prioritized the Majestic-Devanahalli line.
- However, K-Ride deprioritized the corridor after Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) undertook the Blue Line project from Silk Board to KIA via KR Pura, Nagawara, and Hebbal.
- Rail activists advocate for the swift implementation of Corridor-1, citing its potential to offer hassle-free travel options from core city areas to the airport.
Integrated Station at Majestic:
- K-Ride plans to construct an integrated station at Majestic, linking Corridors 1 and 3 (Kengeri-Whitefield) of the suburban rail network.
- The elevated integrated station will be located in front of KSR Bengaluru railway station on Gubbi Thotadappa Road.
- Corridor-1 route spans Malleswaram, Yeshwantpur, Lottegollahalli, and Yelahanka, with proposed elevated corridors from Majestic to Lottegollahalli and from Judicial Layout to Yelahanka.
