Bangarapet Junction is a railway station serving the town of Bangarapet in the Kolar district of Karnataka, India. It is an important junction on the Bengaluru–Chennai line and serves as the takeoff point for the branch line connecting to Kolar and the historic Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). The station is administered by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone of Indian Railways.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bangarapet, Kolar district, Karnataka |
| Country | India |
| Operator | Indian Railways |
| Zone | South Western Railway |
| Division | Bengaluru |
| Station code | BWT |
| Line | Bengaluru–Chennai main line; Bangarapet–Kolar branch (extending towards Chikkaballapur) |
| Type | Junction station |
| Electrification | Yes |
Overview
Bangarapet Junction lies on the broad-gauge trunk route linking Bengaluru with Chennai via Jolarpettai, one of the busiest corridors in southern India. From Bangarapet, a branch line runs north to Kolar, and the route has been progressively extended in recent years to provide connectivity to Chikkaballapur and onward integration with the Bengaluru suburban network.
Background
The Bengaluru–Jolarpettai line, on which Bangarapet stands, was developed under the Madras Railway in the colonial period and historically served the gold-mining economy of the Kolar Gold Fields. The branch from Bangarapet was constructed primarily to move ore, machinery, workers and supplies between the main line and the mining township of KGF, and to connect Kolar town to the railway network.
Services
The station handles a mix of long-distance express trains, intercity services and passenger trains. It is a regular halt for many trains running between Bengaluru and Chennai, as well as services towards Tirupati, Kuppam, Jolarpettai and beyond. Memu and passenger services connect Bangarapet with Bengaluru City and Whitefield, making it part of the daily commuter pattern in the Kolar–Bengaluru belt.
Lines from Bangarapet
- Eastward to Kuppam, Jolarpettai and Chennai (main line).
- Westward to Whitefield, Krishnarajapuram and Bengaluru.
- Branch to Kolar, with extension towards Chikkaballapur.
Significance
Bangarapet's status as a junction makes it a key transfer point for passengers from Kolar district heading towards Bengaluru and Chennai. The station is also widely associated with the local culinary tradition of Bangarpet thatte idli, a flat plate-shaped idli often sold to passengers and travellers, which has given the station a distinctive identity beyond its operational role.
Related topics
- Bangarapet
- Kolar district
- Kolar Gold Fields
- South Western Railway zone
- Bengaluru–Chennai line
- Indian Railways
- KSR Bengaluru City Junction
References
- Wikidata: Q17049573
- South Western Railway, Indian Railways – official station listings.