K-Ride Plans Suburban Rail Stations at Kempegowda International Airport

by news
•
March 25, 2024

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.