Bengaluru: Decorated coaches designed exclusively for
air passengers, hasslefree, traffic-free and super quick transit from Baiyappanahallistation to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), shuttle bus services
right up to the terminal.
The
existing railway link from the city to Devanahalli/Chikkaballapura could be
tweaked with minimal cost to make this proposal a reality in months.
South
Western Railway (SWR) Officials say the rail traffic on Bangalore City to
Yelahanka line is extremely high, and it does not make sense to run airport
trains from Yelahanka to KIA. Urban rail
experts have a ready solution for this. Change the route from KIA to Yelahanka to
Baiyappanahalli, a station already linked to the Namma Metro Network, but this
will require the ongoing track doubling work on the 13 KM
Yelahanka-Channasandra line to be extended by another 3.5 KM to Baiyappanahalli.
Bangalore
International Airport Limited (BIAL) had earlier proposed exclusive coaches
customized for airport passengers to be run frequently from Bengaluru
Cantonment station to KIA, but this proposal, a detailed Project Report (DPR),
which was submitted to the State
Infrastructure Development Department a few months ago, could take years to
reach implementation phase.
Here’s
why: Even the halt proposed for existing trains near the KIA trumpet flyover
will not happen in a hurry. Top South
Western Railway (SWR) Official say the infrastructure for a halt – one minute
or two minutes – should first come up.
The stoppage has to be then sanctioned by the Ministry. “Let the
Bangalore International Airport Limited” (BIAL) first send us a proposal. If they can fund it as well, things might
move faster”, a Senior Official told.
The cost of a halt station is estimated to be about Rs.60.00 lakhs.
BIAL
sources say, a feasibility and ridership study had already been conducted on
running trains with coaches customized for aiport travel from Cantonment to the
Airport on the Chikkaballapura line.
“Since rail traffic on this route is low, more airport-oriented trains
could be run. The entire system could beoperationalised in one or two years”, explained a BIAL official. The report is awaiting the Railway Board’s
nod.
Toboost seamless connectivity, BIAL had also proposed shuttle buses from an
Airport station (along the North-Western side of the Airport enclosure) to the
passenger terminals.
“TheMetro connectivity will take atleast another five years. The rail connection
will ensure multi-model access to KIA till then”, the Official said.
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