Passengers are looking for the extension of two trains from northern districts of Karnataka to KSR Bengaluru station

Two trains – Bengaluru-Bidar Express and Vande Bharat Express, which connects Bengaluru and Kalaburagi – currently start and end at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal. | Photo credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Bengaluru rail users have renewed their demand for extension of Bengaluru-Bidar Express and Vande Bharat Express services, connecting Bengaluru and Kalaburagi, to Bengaluru’s Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station at Majestic.

Currently, they start and end at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT).

Commuters say 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 commuters coming from west and north Bengaluru. KSR station is easily accessible via multiple metro lines and bus routes. Many commuters prefer to board long-distance trains from KSR as it saves time and travel costs,” said Murali Kumar, a resident of Jalahalli.

Several passengers pointed out that traveling on the SMVT is difficult during the late night and early morning hours when public transport services are less frequent.

“Many of us have to leave home well in advance or rely on expensive taxi services to reach the SMVT for late night departures. When trains arrive in the wee hours of the morning, it can be a challenge to find reliable transport from the station. A downtown terminal would greatly improve convenience,” said Shankar Ram, a frequent rail commuter from Rajajinagar.

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

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

Published – 13 Jun 2026 19:49 IST