South Western Railway has initiated acquisition of 13.95 hectares of land in Thanisandra, Bengaluru, to build a maintenance depot for Vande Bharat sleeper trains. The depot is planned on the Channasandra?Yelahanka section near Manyata Tech Park and is intended to support the introduction of overnight Vande Bharat services in Karnataka. The railway issued a notification specifying the land requirement and related infrastructure. The project will comprise maintenance workshops, stabling lines, utility services, approach and service roads and other allied rail infrastructure. The acquisition covers 14 privately owned land parcels across Thanisandra to accommodate the depot layout and ancillary facilities. Local planning links the depot site with the under?construction Heelalige?Rajanukunte suburban rail corridor, enhancing connectivity. The land move follows an engineering, procurement and construction contract awarded earlier this year to Power Mech Projects Ltd for Rs 227.95?crore, equivalent to Rs 2,279.5 million (mn). The contractor is required to complete the depot within 30 months from commencement of work. South Western Railway is also developing a Vande Bharat chair car maintenance facility at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bengaluru, at an estimated cost of Rs 52.73?crore, equal to Rs 527.3 mn. These investments form part of wider preparations for the new generation of faster overnight trains. The depot is expected to be central to routine maintenance and stabling of sleeper trainsets and to support operations originating from Karnataka. The existing Thanisandra station had a ticket counter that was removed during the Channasandra?Yelahanka doubling project, and the depot site selection reflects operational priorities. The scheme is designed to reduce turnaround times and improve fleet availability. Those opposed to the proposed acquisition may file objections within 30 days of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette, after which the competent authority will consider representations. The authority will resolve objections before the acquisition process proceeds further. Project implementation will move ahead subject to clearance of statutory procedures.