Government mulls dedicated railway track to airport

BENGALURU: The state government will engage Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) for a feasibility study towards building a dedicated railway track to the Kempegowda International Airport.

Bengaluru development minister, KJ George, said the project would depend on the study's findings.“The dedicated line would connect the airport from Yeshwantpur railway station via Yelahanka. If needed, the line will be elevated to minimise land acquisition,“ he added.

Union minister Sadananda Gowda, who was also part of the meeting on Bengaluru suburban rail project, said the decision to procure 15 Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains would be ta ken in fifteen days, in the presence of railway minister Suresh Prabhu. “The first four trains would be procured by the end of this year,“ Gowda said.

Regarding the proposed third coach terminal in Baiyappanahalli, Gowda said the first phase of the project would be ready in December 2018.

The first phase includes construction of three platforms.