The main entrance of Bangalore Cantonment railway station has been shut to enable construction work, in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Passengers at Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station in Bengaluru are facing mounting difficulties due to prolonged construction work at the main entrance on Station Road, which has led to complete chaos. Confusion over entry points, misleading signboards, and lack of support from railway officials have contributed to the woes of daily commuters and long-distance travellers.

With the main entrance cordoned off for a ₹480 crore modernisation project, the only access point is a narrow, poorly marked passage located less than 100 metres to the left of the closed gate. When The Hindu visited the spot, small printouts pasted along the road are the only indicators of the change in the entrance; most passengers are likely to miss these printouts.

“I was dropped off near the main entrance and stood there for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to enter the railway station. There was no one to guide us, not even a security guard,” said Sneha Rao, a software engineer. “An auto driver offered to take me around for ₹150, claiming that the platform was far. But once I paid and got in, he simply turned the corner and pointed to a small lane. It was all very frustrating,” she added.

Elderly passengers suffer

Railway officials have stated that passengers heading to board the Vande Bharat Express and other trains departing from Platforms 1A to 1E should use Terminal 1, and walk via Platform 1. Those boarding trains from other platforms are advised to use Terminal 2 on the Miller’s Road side.

However, signage remains unclear, and without staff to guide passengers, confusion prevails.

The situation is worse for elderly passengers, who complain of inadequate waiting facilities.

“I came with my husband who recently had surgery. We struggled to find a bench to sit on while waiting for our train. With all the dust and noise from the construction, it’s impossible to rest,” said 68-year-old Radha Seshadri, who was travelling to Coimbatore.

To make matters worse, passengers complain that auto and cab drivers are taking advantage of the chaos. Commuters have complained of being misled, overcharged, or dropped off far from the correct entrances. On the Vasanthnagar side, auto drivers reportedly exploit the situation by falsely claiming that the roads are blocked or in poor condition.

“They charged me ₹200 to come from Shivajinagar, saying the roads near the station were dug up. But after dropping me off near Millers Road, the driver refused to take me closer, citing traffic. I had to walk with two suitcases for over 10 minutes,” said Karthik M., a student heading to Madurai.

Passengers have also raised concerns about poor sanitation. Platform 2, which handles several passenger trains, reportedly gets waterlogged during rains, with a dirty drain water spilling onto the pathway.

“There’s no proper drainage near Platform 2. Every time it rains, the area turns into a swamp. The stench is unbearable, and we have to tiptoe around puddles with our luggage,” said Rekha Balraj, a frequent traveller.

Use FoB says officials

Though SWR advises passengers to use the Foot Over Bridge (FOB) to access the platforms or terminals, many say the situation on the ground is far from manageable.

“Until clear signage, staff support, and passenger amenities are in place, the redevelopment of Bangalore Cantonment station will continue to disrupt the very commuters it aims to serve,” Ms. Rekha said.

An SWR official said, “Passengers who happen to enter through the wrong terminal can still access their designated platforms by using the Foot Over Bridge (FOB) that connects both sides of the station. For added convenience, the front entrance on Cantonment Road (Platform 1 side) houses a Passenger Reservation Counter along with four unreserved ticket counters. On the other hand, the back entrance on Miller’s Road (Platform 2 side) provides two Unreserved Ticketing System counters, and one Automatic Ticket Vending Machine (ATVM) to cater to ticketing needs.”