Heritage takes back seat as iconic arches in Cantt Rly Stn demolished

In what could be another significant loss to the city's heritage, the iconic arches on Platform 1 at Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Station have been demolished as part of redevelopment works, much to the dismay of passengers, residents, and concerned parties.

- Chandra Prabhu S

Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Station, the oldest in the state, was opened in November 1862. Now, 162 years later, the arches that withstood the passage of time have been reduced to rubble.

This demolition is part of a larger project by South Western Railways (SWR), initiated in 2023, to transform the station into a world-class facility at an estimated cost of Rs. 480 crore.

While the Railways have pledged to preserve the station's heritage value, it currently seems that little of that heritage remains intact.

According to local staff, the arches were taken down last week.