Rail users in Bengaluru have renewed their demand for extension of the Bengaluru-Bidar Express service and Vande Bharat Express, connecting Bengaluru and Kalaburagi, to Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Bengaluru Railway Station at Majestic.

They currrently originate and terminate at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT).

Commuters argue that the KSR Bengaluru Railway Station, located in the heart of the city, offers better connectivity through the Namma Metro network and BMTC buses, making it a more convenient boarding point for passengers.

“Reaching SMVT is often a challenge, especially for passengers coming from western and northern parts of Bengaluru. The KSR station can be accessed easily through multiple metro lines and bus routes. Many passengers prefer to board long-distance trains from the KSR, as it saves both time and travel costs,” said Murali Kumar, a resident of Jalahalli.

Several passengers pointed out that travelling to the SMVT becomes difficult during late-night and early-morning hours when public transport services are less frequent.

“Many of us have to leave home well in advance or depend on expensive cab services to reach the SMVT for late-night departures. When trains arrive in the early hours, finding reliable transport from the station can also be a challenge. A terminal in the city centre would greatly improve convenience,” said Shankar Ram, a frequent rail commuter from Rajajinagar.

The railway officials said that it developed SMVT primarily to ease congestion at Bengaluru’s busy railway stations and redistribute train operations across the city. However, the passengers believe that the terminal’s location continues to pose accessibility issues despite serving this purpose.

According to the officials, the Railway Board initially proposed the Cantonment station as the train’s terminal when the service was approved. However, the absence of critical infrastructure such as pit-line and charging facilities resulted in the SMVT being designated as a temporary terminal.