India’s fully air-conditioned railway terminal in Bengaluru’s Byappanahalli is likely to be opened for passengers in September, six months after its completion. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to visit Bengaluru on September 1 to assess progress, according to South Western Railway (SWR) sources. By the end of the month, all outstanding work will be completed. SWR reveals that the inauguration will take place in September. The date has not yet been confirmed, according to SWR chief public relations officer Aneesh Hegde. The Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (Byappanahalli third coaching terminal) was completed in March, but the inauguration was postponed due to a delay in receiving the Prime Minister's date. The terminal was approved in 2015-16 to assist SWR in running more trains from Bengaluru and was supposed to be finished in 2018, but it was pushed back due to a variety of factors. The Rs 314 crore station building, which spans 4,200 square metres, will serve a daily footfall of 50,000 people. It has seven platforms, eight stabling lines, and three pit lines in addition to eight stabling lines. The terminal can accommodate up to 50 trains per day. By September 15, the ROB should be ready. Another reason for the postponement of the inauguration is a missing rail across the bridge. The 810 m road over bridges that were proposed in 2010-11 to connect Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal and Swami Vivekananda Metro Station on Old Madras Road is still under construction. Work on the project was halted in 2012 when the defence ministry refused to hand over land, but it was restarted seven years later. The project was supposed to be finished by June 2020, but it was pushed back due to a labour shortage after the pandemic. 85% of the work has been completed, said Hedge. Due to a delay in receiving permission from the defence ministry, the deadline has been pushed back to mid-September. According to Hegde, the BBMP has agreed to complete some of the work requested by the ministry, including the construction of a compound wall, toilets, and a watch tower. Image Source Also read: Indian Railways looks to exit Bhubaneswar railway revamp due to delays Also read: Indian Railways allots redevelopment of 49 railway stations to RLDA