South Western Railway to replace 128 level crossings with modern bridges in Bengaluru

A three-year plan to replace all railway level crossings in Bengaluru with modern overbridges and underpasses aims to cut congestion, reduce pollution, and enhance commuter safety.

Traffic jams caused by railway gates across Bengaluru could soon end, as the South Western Railway (SWR) has launched an ambitious three-year plan to eliminate all 128 level crossings within a 100-km radius of the city. Each crossing will be replaced with either a Road Over Bridge (ROB) or a Road Under Bridge (RUB), ensuring uninterrupted vehicle movement and enhanced safety.

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This initiative is part of the government’s push to modernize city infrastructure and improve urban mobility. The plan follows a detailed survey identifying bottlenecks that often delay commuters for up to 30 minutes when trains pass back-to-back. Such delays not only waste time but also increase vehicle emissions, worsening Bengaluru’s pollution and traffic problems.

So far, 35 crossings have received approval for bridge construction, while 20 are in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage and 14 await final clearance. The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company (K-RIDE) will handle 22 more crossings under the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project. The plan involves close coordination between SWR, the state government, and civic agencies to ensure timely implementation.

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Priority will be given to crossings with high daily traffic, between 50,000 and one lakh vehicles. Locations like Kodigehalli, Yelahanka back gate, Dodda Jala, KIADB (Devanahalli), Banaswadi, Kaverinagar, Nagawara, Kanakanagar, Jnanabharathi, and RV College Junction are part of the initial list. Projects with higher traffic will be jointly funded by the state and the Centre, while smaller ones will be fully financed by the Railways.