News Brief
Bengaluru Airport To Get New Rail Link, 7.9-Km Route To Include Underground And Elevated Sections
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. (Pixabay/Bishnu Sarangi)
Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that a new railway link will soon enhance connectivity between Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and Bengaluru, Moneycontrol reported.
"The new line between Doddajala and KIA will be 7.9 km long and will have three stations," Vaishnaw was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.
The railway line will have a 6.25-km elevated section, while the remaining 1.65 km will be constructed underground.
Once operational, the Bengaluru airport will be connected by three railway lines in addition to Metro and suburban rail.
Vaishnaw highlighted the significance of strengthening railway connectivity to the airport, citing his previous train journey from the airport to the city centre.
"One more option we are creating is the railway connectivity to the Airport. When I came here last time, I traveled by train from airport to the city centre and I realised the huge potential of doing this connectivity. There were a few technical glitches because at some point we had to create a rail flyover. They showed me the concept today... that will again bring a big relief to the people," Vaishnaw added.
Currently, the nearest railway station to KIA is KIA Halt, located 3.5 km from the terminal. The station was built by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore and was inaugurated on 4 January 2021.
The station was designed to cater to 28,000 airport employees as well as passengers.
To facilitate smooth connectivity, BIAL operates free shuttle bus services between the railway station and the terminal, aligning with train schedules.
However, passenger usage of the railway station has remained low due to limited train services on the single-track Yelahanka–Devanahalli route.
Bengaluru Airport, which is operational since 2008, is about 35 kilometers from the city centre and this new facility, once operational, will provide relief to commuters.
