Railways extend bid deadline for Thanisandra depot crucial for Vande Bharat sleepers
Bengaluru
The South Western Railway has extended the bid submission deadline for constructing a dedicated depot to maintain Vande Bharat sleeper trains in Thanisandra, a facility that is expected to play a key role in enhancing Bengaluru’s railway infrastructure. Tenders were originally invited in July under the Engineering, Construction and Procurement (ECP) model, with the deadline set for November 21. This has now been extended to December 12, allowing more time for bidders to participate.
The decision to build the depot comes as the Railways prepares to roll out its next major upgrade—Vande Bharat Sleeper trains—following the success of the seater versions. Sleeper train production is currently progressing at full speed, and the Railway Board has identified five locations across the country to host specialised depots. Thanisandra, located between Channasandra and Yelahanka railway stations and adjacent to the now-defunct Thanisandra station, has been selected as one of these sites. The planned facility, capable of handling 16 coaches, carries an estimated project cost of ₹227.94 crore.
This development complements ongoing capacity expansion across Bengaluru’s rail network. At the Banaswadi MEMU shed, an additional ₹50 crore is being invested to enhance maintenance capabilities for Vande Bharat seater trains. Similarly, the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Byappanahalli is set to receive a fourth pit line at a cost of ₹123 crore, strengthening overall operational efficiency.
Railway officials confirmed that two prototype Vande Bharat sleeper trains have already been manufactured at BEML’s Chennai Integral Coach Factory (ICF) but are yet to be released due to technical reasons.
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The construction of the Thanisandra Vande Bharat maintenance depot is a welcome move. However, delays in the tendering process must be minimised to prevent future slowdowns, said K.N. Krishna Prasad of the Karnataka Railway Forum.
