Bengaluru Gets New Railway Terminal Near Devanahalli

In a significant move to decongest its heavily burdened railway network, Bengaluru is set to get a new mega terminal with maintenance facilities near Devanahalli. The Railway Board has granted approval for a comprehensive survey, estimated to cost over ₹1.3 crore, to identify the optimal location for this crucial infrastructure project.

The survey will focus on areas in the vicinity of Devanahalli station and along the Yelahanka-Devanahalli-Chikkaballapur railway line. The primary objective of establishing this new terminal is to alleviate the growing pressure on the city's existing railway infrastructure.

According to a press release from South Western Railway, Bengaluru, with its burgeoning population of approximately 11.5 million, currently operates with only three major terminals – KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, and SMVT Bengaluru – and just 12 pit lines. These facilities handle a substantial volume of traffic daily, including 140 originating, 139 terminating, and 142 pass-through trains, along with 110 primary maintenance trains. In the fiscal year 2024-25 alone, the city witnessed nearly 104 million originating passengers and a total footfall of 212 million. The existing terminals are already operating beyond their capacity, and future projections indicating a potential rise to 210 originating trains per day threaten to overwhelm the current system.

Railway officials highlight that the existing infrastructure faces severe congestion, leading to platform overcrowding and frequent operational delays. Furthermore, rapid urbanization within the city has presented significant challenges to the expansion of the railway network within its core areas.

Strategically located on the outskirts of the city, the planned Devanahalli terminal will become Bengaluru's fourth major railway hub. This new facility is expected to play a pivotal role in the effective distribution of rail traffic, significantly improving operational efficiency and reducing the strain on the existing terminals within the city center.