/newsfirstprime/media/agency_attachments/2025/07/28/2025-07-28t111554609z-2025-07-23t100810984z-newsfirst_prime_640-siddesh-kumar-h-p-1-2025-07-23-15-38-10-2025-07-28-16-45-54.webp)
Follow Us
/newsfirstprime/media/media_files/2025/08/28/bengaluru-airport-bial-2025-08-28-11-47-03.jpg)
Plans for a separate railway line to Kempegowda International Airport shelved; authorities say metro and suburban rail projects will sufficiently serve passengers.
The Indian Railways’ earlier plan to build a direct rail link to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has been officially shelved after a stakeholders’ meeting concluded that a new line would be redundant.
The project, announced in February by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, had proposed a 7.9 km stretch between Doddajala and the airport, including a rail-over-rail flyover and three new stations. The aim was to ease city congestion and provide faster airport access.
However, the presence of ongoing projects—Namma Metro’s Blue Line (K.R. Puram–KIA) and K-RIDE’s Sampige Line suburban rail corridor from KSR Bengaluru via Yelahanka to Devanahalli—has rendered the plan unnecessary.
Also Read:Hebbal junction upgrade: Tunnel road and KR Puram–airport flyover proposed
Currently, the closest rail point to the terminal is the KIA Halt station, located 3.5 km away, with BIAL operating free shuttle buses timed with train arrivals. Despite this, passenger usage has been low due to limited services on the single-track Yelahanka–Devanahalli line, which is also shared by long-distance trains.
Confirming the decision, Mukul Saran Mathur, GM of South Western Railway, said: “With metro and suburban rail lines already extending to the airport, creating another dedicated line was considered unnecessary.”
With both metro and suburban systems progressing, Bengaluru fliers will soon have multiple high-frequency, direct connectivity options to the airport—without the need for an additional railway line.
Also Read:RCB breaks silence with ‘RCB Cares’ initiative after Bengaluru stampede tragedy
