₹4,100 crore approved for Bengaluru airport rail link, suburban train to finally reach KIA

After years of delay, Indian Railways and K-Ride clear the long-pending airport rail link under the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, promising major relief from road congestion to Kempegowda International Airport.

After years of uncertainty and repeated delays, the long-pending suburban rail link to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has finally received formal approval. The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride) and Indian Railways have cleared the project, with ₹4,100 crore sanctioned by Railways for its implementation.

The airport rail connection will be developed as part of the Majestic-Devanahalli corridor of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). Once operational, the link is expected to significantly reduce pressure on airport roads, which currently handle nearly one lakh vehicles every day.

According to project plans, the rail line will diverge from the main suburban corridor at Ballari Road, about 2 km beyond Doddajala heritage station. From there, it will turn towards BK Halli Road and approach the airport from the southern side, ensuring direct access to the terminal zone.

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A dedicated 8.5 km airport spur line will be built, with two stations proposed at BK Halli Road and Aerospace Park. These stations are designed to serve fast-growing residential and industrial areas around the airport.

Within the airport premises, the project includes a 3.5 km underground rail section, featuring two underground stations. The terminal station is planned close to the Taj Hotel, with integration planned with other modes of public transport to ensure smooth last-mile connectivity.

To meet future demand, trains will initially operate with three coaches, while station infrastructure will be built to handle nine-coach trains, allowing for capacity expansion as passenger numbers rise.

The Majestic-Devanahalli corridor was approved in 2020, but the airport link was later de-prioritised, reportedly to avoid overlap with the proposed Blue Line Metro by BMRCL. This decision prolonged traffic congestion on airport roads.

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Project execution has also faced land acquisition hurdles and tender setbacks. Earlier, L&T terminated contracts due to delays in land availability, forcing K-Ride to reissue tenders for sections like the Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara corridor.

In June 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a 40-month deadline for completing the suburban rail corridors. However, none have been commissioned yet. The delays were flagged during a Pragati review meeting, where directions were issued to fast-track stalled corridors, including Majestic-Devanahalli and Kengeri-Whitefield.

With funding now approved and alignment finalised, officials say the airport rail link is finally set to move forward, offering Bengaluru a long-awaited public transport alternative to its international airport.