Bengaluru, home to 11.5 million people, is one of India’s fastest-growing cities—but its railway infrastructure is struggling to keep up.
Currently, the city relies on just three terminals:
- KSR Bengaluru
- Yeshwantpur
- SMVT Bengaluru
These handle over 140 originating, 139 terminating, and 142 pass-through trains daily—plus 110 trains requiring primary maintenance. In the fiscal year 2024-25, Bengaluru witnessed a massive 212 million total footfall, with 104 million originating passengers.
Overloaded Terminals, Rising Demand
South Western Railway officials have raised concerns over overcrowded platforms, frequent delays, and limited infrastructure. Projections show that the number of originating trains per day could rise to 210 soon, pushing the current system past its limit.
Complicating matters, Bengaluru’s rapid urban growth has left little room for expanding the existing network within the central zones of the city.
Devanahalli Terminal: A Strategic Step Forward
In response, the government has proposed a new terminal at Devanahalli, which will become Bengaluru’s fourth major railway terminal.
Here’s what it will offer:
- Redistribution of train traffic to reduce load on city terminals
- Improved operational efficiency by shifting some services to the outskirts
- Long-term capacity planning for handling future rail demand
- Easier access for residents of northern and eastern Bengaluru
Why It Matters
The Devanahalli terminal is not just an infrastructure upgrade—it’s a strategic move to future-proof Bengaluru’s rail network. As passenger numbers climb and train operations grow more complex, decentralizing terminals could be the only way to maintain efficiency and avoid chaos.
Once operational, the new terminal is expected to bring much-needed relief to millions of daily commuters.
