Bengaluru: KR Pura railway station redevelopment lags as passenger pressure grows

Despite being one of Bengaluru’s busiest transit points, KR Pura station continues to face major commuter discomfort as redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat scheme moves slowly compared to other city stations.

KR Pura railway station, a key suburban gateway that handles close to 10,000 passengers each day, remains one of Bengaluru’s slowest-progressing projects under the Amrit Bharat Station redevelopment programme. Eighteen months after its inclusion, the upgrade pace has fallen behind other stations such as Whitefield, Bengaluru Cantonment and KSR Bengaluru.

The station regularly witnesses overwhelming crowds, especially on Platform 2, where long-distance and high-priority trains, including the Madurai-bound Vande Bharat Express, halt. Its strategic location near the ORR-Whitefield IT corridor attracts heavy footfall, but commuters continue to face issues due to inadequate infrastructure. Passengers arriving from states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu often prefer alighting at KR Pura to access East and North Bengaluru, yet basic facilities remain insufficient.

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Travellers have repeatedly raised concerns about steep and narrow foot-over bridges, the absence of lifts, malfunctioning washrooms, and poor connectivity between platforms and entry points. Senior citizens find navigation particularly difficult, with no direct access to Platform 2 and limited support infrastructure.

As per project details, the redevelopment plan includes creating a third entry point to ease congestion, along with expanded holding areas and improved public amenities.

 Officials indicate that a wide 12-metre FOB is planned, but track realignment and platform adjustments are required before construction can begin, contributing to delays. The first phase, focused on improving parking facilities, has moved forward, but several civil works remain pending.

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With 55 railway stations across Karnataka selected for transformation, KR Pura remains one of the slow movers even as other stations see rapid modernisation. Cantonment’s redevelopment has already advanced significantly, including the removal of its historic stone arch.

Until upgrades catch up, commuters at KR Pura continue to face overcrowding, inadequate access and limited amenities despite its increasing importance in Bengaluru’s daily travel network.