Why Sir MV terminal in Bengaluru falls short of airport-like expectations

Nearly four years after it opened amid fanfare, Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) at Byappanahalli is confronting an uncomfortable question: Has the city's most modern railway station managed to sustain the standards it promised?When the terminal was inaugurated, social media users compared it to an airport. The glass facade, sprawling concourse, escalators, digital displays and centralised air-conditioning were showcased as symbols of a changing railway experience in India. Built at a cost of Rs 314 crore, the station was projected as a future-ready transport hub that would redefine passenger comfort in Bengaluru. Today, the reality appears more complicated.A reality check by TOI found that while the terminal continues to handle growing volumes of long-distance passengers and remains among Bengaluru's busiest railway stations, several aspects of passenger experience have deteriorated or failed to keep pace with rising footfall.Inside the terminal, passengers complained of poor cooling despite the station being marketed as centrally air-conditioned. Seating shortages have left travellers sitting on floors or standing for long periods, especially those arriving early to avoid traffic snarls.Outside and across parts of the premises, maintenance concerns are increasingly visible. Parking areas were found strewn with litter, including liquor bottles, while staircases, platforms and walls bore paan stains. Passengers raised concerns over poorly maintained washrooms and inadequate hygiene.Railway officials, however, insist systems are functional and say expansion works and enforcement drives are under way to address emerging gaps as passenger traffic grows steadily at the terminal.-----Box-1:AC promise meets city heatOne of the chief complaints is on air-conditioning: Cooling was inadequate, particularly in the afternoon. Several passengers said the difference between outdoors and indoors was barely noticeable.The discomfort is compounded by limited seating in the main concourse. Long-distance passengers often reach stations well in advance to account for unpredictable traffic and last-minute rushes. Railway officials denied the air-conditioning system had failed and maintained the systems were functioning normally.An official also addressed complaints regarding non-functional escalators, stating passengers frequently press emergency stop buttons. "Once the escalator is stopped, it requires a key to be used, and only security personnel can operate it," the official said.-----Box-2Rs 17-cr expansion under wayRailway authorities said additional infrastructure is being created to ease congestion. A new concourse covering nearly 875 square metres is under construction adjacent to the existing terminal. The project, estimated at Rs 17 crore, will include waiting halls, ticket counters and other passenger amenities.-----Box-3Littered parking lots, paan-stained wallsPassengers said the station's appearance no longer reflects the premium image associated with its launch. "The upkeep of the station is lacking," said Shivakumar, a passenger. "If you look at the parking lot, garbage is littered everywhere and the gardens are poorly maintained. People consume liquor and dump bottles, while open urination poses hygiene risks." He said authorities should enforce stricter penalties against violators.-----Box-4645 cases booked for littering, spittingRailway authorities said enforcement drives are regularly conducted across the terminal. According to SWR officials, offences such as littering, spitting and open urination attract fines of up to Rs 500 under provisions of Indian Railways Act.At SMVT alone, 645 cases were registered during 2025-26. February 2026 recorded the lowest number of cases at 22, while August and September 2025 saw more than 60 cases each, which officials attributed to higher long-distance passenger movement.— Nyasa Gupta & Abhishek Tanwani
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