Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the upcoming launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai during the virtual inauguration of a new express train on Sunday. He emphasized the fulfillment of long-pending railway demands in South and North Karnataka through accelerated infrastructure development and increased funding support.
Vaishnaw highlighted the significant increase in railway funding for Karnataka in recent years, leading to the expedited implementation of crucial rail projects throughout the state. He mentioned the ongoing redevelopment of 61 railway stations in Karnataka under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with nine stations already completed, including Bengaluru Cantonment and Yeshwantpur stations.
The Railway Minister pointed out that Karnataka has witnessed the construction of approximately 1,750 km of new railway lines since 2014. He also mentioned the completion of electrification work on the challenging Hassan–Mangaluru railway section, with testing currently in progress. Additionally, progress is being made on the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project across all four corridors.
Vaishnaw provided updates on various corridors within the suburban rail network, indicating that land acquisition and station construction work are underway for specific sections. He mentioned the joint approval for the KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli corridor and the approval for the Kengeri–Whitefield corridor, with survey work set to commence soon. The suburban rail network aims to enhance urban mobility by connecting key hubs in Bengaluru, including the airport and major business districts.
The Railway Minister also noted that Karnataka operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains currently and highlighted the ongoing testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route, expected to enhance rail connectivity along the coastal belt up to Madgaon.
