"Suburban Rail Link to Airport May Now Connect from Doddajala Station"

The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride), responsible for implementing the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), is considering a new suburban rail connection to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) that would originate from Doddajala station instead of the previously proposed Trumpet Interchange on Ballari Road.

Initially, K-Ride planned to construct a 5.6-km airport link from Trumpet Interchange along the Majestic-Devanahalli corridor, which included two stations on the airport campus. However, officials have determined that a rail route from Doddajala would offer greater benefits, serving a broader community, including local residents and those working in industrial hubs near the airport.

The newly proposed 8-km link from Doddajala would not only provide a direct connection to the airport but would also serve surrounding areas, including the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board’s Defence and Aerospace Park, villages to the southern part of KIA, and nearby residential zones. The alignment would run parallel to the alternative road linking the airport from the southern side. A portion of the line leading to the airport boundary would be elevated, with the rest of the route continuing underground within the airport campus.

"An airport link from the Doddajala side offers multiple benefits compared to the Trumpet Interchange side. Providing a link from Trumpet Interchange would mean the line ends on the airport campus, whereas the Doddajala route benefits a larger section of society," explained a K-Ride official.

The proposed Doddajala station for the suburban rail link is located away from the existing halt station, which is over a century old. To accommodate this plan, K-Ride has approached South Western Railway (SWR) for approval. Fifteen stations are proposed along the 41-km Majestic-Devanahalli (corridor 1) alignment. The suburban rail line from Majestic to Devanahalli will run parallel to the operational SWR line, with the branch to the airport connecting from Doddajala.

The construction of suburban rail to Devanahalli faces several challenges due to the busy rail lines, particularly between Majestic and Yeshwantpur. Beyond Yelahanka, SWR has proposed doubling the line to Devanahalli to manage increased traffic.

The revised proposal comes after the Central government initially prioritized the BSRP project, but later de-prioritized it when the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced plans for the Metro Blue Line from Central Silk Board to KIA. This new plan from K-Ride seeks to revitalize the suburban rail connection and expand its reach to a larger population base.

ET