Check-in for international airport at Cantt station

Check-in for international airport at Cantt station
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Soon, passengers to the international airport may not need to drive to Devanahalli to check-in. Instead, they would do so at the Cantonment railway station. An express rail link to the international airport from Cantonment station is on the cards.

The proposal is expected to be taken up by the Cabinet, this week.

As per the proposal, passengers hopping into the train can directly board planes at the airport. “They will not have to lug the baggage along,” sources said.

According to sources, the train will begin from Cantonment station and pass through Bypanahalli, terminating at the international airport. “It will be on international standards. Abroad, one can come by coach or rail that is terminated at the airport. This plan is also on the same lines,” sources said.

It will be a double line and will run parallel to the existing railway lines. It will cover a distance of about 35 kilometres and the train timings will match the frequency and timings of flights.

IDecK has been selected for this project, while the South-Western railway has completed a preliminary feasibility study to determine if the link should originate from Cantonment, Byappanahalli or Bangalore East stations. It has now zeroed on Cantonment station.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted by RITES, the same Government agency that prepared the DPR for the metro rail project.

Sources say that the financial packaging will be shared by Infrastructure department, South-Western railway and another third party. The plan looks ambitious and is believed to be moving swiftly too.