Bengaluru: Rs 2,500 Crore Mega Rail Terminal Planned In Devanahalli, To Decongest Key Railway Stations

The Bengaluru Railway Division is gearing up for a transformative project aimed at alleviating congestion in key railway stations across the city.

A railway official disclosed that plans are underway to establish a substantial terminal in Devanahalli, equipped with maintenance facilities, at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore.

Under the ambit of the Viksit Bharat initiative, the proposed terminal is slated to sprawl across 200 acres, featuring a minimum of 10 platforms for train operations. The endeavour aims to ease the burden on saturated stations like KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwanthpur and Bengaluru Cantonment.

The official outlined the strategic location considerations, suggesting a site situated 4 to 5 kilometres away from the existing Devanahalli Halt station. However, the realisation of this ambitious project hinges on approvals from the Railway Board and subsequently, the Union Cabinet, owing to its substantial financial implications, reports The New Indian Express.

The terminal's integration into the broader 287-km circular railway project for Bengaluru is part of the grand vision. Currently, feasibility studies for both projects are ongoing.

Nonetheless, construction plans for the terminal will proceed independently, not contingent upon the circular project's completion. Efforts are underway to establish bypass rail routes linking the terminal to neighbouring railway stations.

The circular railway project is aimed at fortifying local train services, alleviating congestion in existing rail networks, and synergising with the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) and Namma Metro.

The network aims to alleviate saturation on the existing rail network by operating diesel-electric multiple unit or mainline electric multiple unit (DEMU/MEMU) trains, thereby reducing the load on rail lines handling long-distance trains.

The completion of this circular project is anticipated to facilitate seamless train transfers to the proposed Devanahalli terminal.

The initiative, unveiled by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in November last year, aims to streamline connectivity by linking key locales such as Nidvanda, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, Heelalige, and Solur, ultimately circling back to Nidvanda.

If successfully implemented, the circular rail network promises to be a game-changer, providing a seamless and efficient transportation solution for Bengaluru and its satellite towns.