Railways’ earlier proposal to create a short rail link connecting Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) with Bengaluru city has been set aside following a stakeholders’ meeting. Authorities concluded that a separate railway line is not required since the airport will already be served by both the metro and suburban rail networks.
In February, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced the plan as part of a wider push to decongest the city. The proposal envisaged a rail-over-rail (RoR) flyover, and a 7.9-km line between Doddajala and the airport, featuring three stations.
At present, the closest railway station to the airport is KIA Halt, located 3.5 km away from the terminal. Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) operates free shuttle services between the halt and the terminal, synchronised with train schedules. Despite this, passenger numbers remain low as only limited train services are available on the single-track Yelahanka–Devanahalli corridor, which is also used by other long-distance trains.
Mukul Saran Mathur, General Manager of South Western Railway, said that the project was set aside after discussions with the airport operator. “Since the metro and suburban rail lines are already being extended to the airport, adding another railway line was considered unnecessary,” he said.
Meanwhile, works on Namma Metro’s Blue Line (K.R. Puram–KIA) is under progress. Additionally, K-RIDE, which is implementing Bengaluru’s suburban rail network, is developing the Sampige Line connecting KSR Bengaluru with Yelahanka and Devanahalli, providing another mode of access for Bengaluru airport passengers.
Published – August 26, 2025 11:43 pm IST
