Bengaluru’s third coaching terminal in Baiyappanhalli is finally ready. The third coaching terminal of Bangalore is expected to ease the congested Majestic and Yeshwanthpura railway stations.
The South Western Railway had missed at least four publicly-announced deadlines to complete the Rs 240 crore project, first announced in 2012. Officials said that a large number of officers, supervisors, technicians and labourers worked even during the pandemic by maintaining social distancing and taking precautions against Covid-19.
With the commissioning of this yard, the line congestion at Majestic terminal will be reduced to a great extent as more trains to and from Mumbai and Chennai regions can be started and terminated at Baiyappanahalli.
The terminal, however, is located about 2-kms away from Baiyappanahalli Railway and Metro stations. The entire terminal including the building will offer full-fledged services by October 30. While the existing Baiyappanahalli yard is remodelled by providing 18 lines, the new station will have eight passenger lines with seven platforms, six stabling lines, three pit lines and a line for future pit line.
In addition to these, there will be five loco bay lines, one rack machine siding, one sick line, one shunting neck, one parcel siding and one inspection car siding along with two short stabling lines. These facilities, officials said, will improve the line capacity for simultaneous reception and dispatch of trains from Chennai and Mumbai via Baiyappanahalli.
The completion of the project will also facilitate running of more local trains. The work had begun in 2013 but went on missing deadlines for several reasons. It was expected to be ready as early as December 2018. It was rescheduled to March 2019 and later January 2020 and March 2020.