Bengaluru: South Western Railway sets February 2024 deadline for Cantonment railway station makeover

BENGALURU: South Western Railway (SWR) has set February 2024 as the deadline to redevelop the city’s oldest railway station — Bengaluru Cantonment.
In December 2021, the ministry of railways identified Cantonment station for redevelopment with world-class facilities and appointed the Lucknow-based Sthapati Associates Private Limited as a consultant.

In May 2022, the railways invited a Rs 442-crore tender for upgrading the railway station under engineering, procurement and construction model. It was supposed to be opened in June 2022. However, a work order is yet to be issued. SWR chief PRO Aneesh Hegde said: “Tender has been invited and the process is on.”

On Saturday, Indian Railways unveiled an artistic impression of the station. “Columns of growth: A glimpse of the proposed design of the to-be-redeveloped Bengaluru Cantonment railway station,” it tweeted.


Cantonment station began operations in 1864. The redeveloped station is expected to provide an airport-like experience for passengers and other visitors with a slew of modern amenities like AC waiting areas and retail spaces.
Many passengers want the railways to protect the station’s heritage structure. At present, there are four platforms and SWR is planning two more. Also, there are plans to convert Cantonment into a suburban terminal on the lines of Mumbai’s Victoria Terminus.
Tweets
Sandesh Rudrapati @sandeshme
The beauty of Cantonment rly station lies in the heritage aspects. Small is beautiful. We always prefer the small, charming Cantonment station to the huge, sprawling KSR. Why ‘redevelop’ something that’s doing fine? The wooden overbridge is such a charm that no other station has.

Bhaarat @Bhaarat_Indian
Connectivity to Cantonment station is really pathetic. Narrow road, big potholes and no proper road connectivity, this required immediate attention and modification

Chandrashekara @chatan71
Start prepaid auto and taxi counters at Cantonment... At present, auto drivers demand 2-3 times normal fare... Existing prepaid counter is always closed.