Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Bengaluru–Mumbai Express, Announces Upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Service
Bengaluru, May 17 (TNT): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, virtually flagged off a new express train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai on Sunday, describing it as a major step towards strengthening connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Addressing the gathering, the Railway Minister said long-pending railway demands of both South and North Karnataka were now being fulfilled. He also announced that a Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to commence soon.
Highlighting rapid infrastructure growth, Vaishnaw said railway funding for Karnataka had increased significantly in recent years, accelerating the pace of project execution across the state.
Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 61 railway stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped at a total cost of ₹2,160 crore, with redevelopment works already completed at nine stations.
He said Bengaluru Cantonment railway station is being upgraded at a cost of ₹485 crore, while Yesvantpur Junction railway station is undergoing redevelopment worth ₹367 crore.
The Union Minister stated that since 2014, around 1,750 kilometres of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka.
He also noted that electrification works on the challenging Hassan–Mangaluru section had been completed and testing was currently underway.
On the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, Vaishnaw said work is progressing across all four corridors. Land acquisition has been completed for the Baiyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara and Heelalige–Rajanukunte corridors, while station works are currently in progress.
He added that the KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli corridor alignment has been jointly approved by the Railways and the Karnataka Government, with geotechnical surveys already completed. The Kengeri–Whitefield corridor has also received approval, and survey works are expected to begin shortly.
According to the Union Minister, the suburban railway network will connect major hubs including the airport, Electronic City, Marathahalli, and Hebbal.
Vaishnaw further stated that Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains. Testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route is underway and is expected to improve rail connectivity towards the coastal belt up to Madgaon.
He also revealed that bullet train corridors linking Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have been approved. The Minister said the long-term vision is to build a 7,000-kilometre high-speed rail network connecting Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other major Indian cities.
Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna thanked Ashwini Vaishnaw for sanctioning the new Bengaluru–Mumbai train service, stating that it would significantly benefit passengers travelling on one of the country’s busiest rail routes.
Somanna said Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains covering 14 districts.
He announced that a Vande Bharat Sleeper maintenance depot would be established at Thanisandra at a cost of ₹270 crore, while a chair car maintenance facility would be developed at SMVT Bengaluru for ₹52.73 crore.
He further noted that several major rail infrastructure projects are underway, including the doubling of the Baiyappanahalli–Hosur line costing ₹1,116 crore, the Bettahalasuru–Rajanukunte line costing ₹248 crore, and quadrupling works around Bengaluru worth ₹1,347 crore.
According to Somanna, automatic signalling works are being implemented across several important sections including Yesvantpur, KSR Bengaluru, Lottegollahalli, Baiyappanahalli, Penukonda, Mysuru, and Jolarpettai at a combined cost of ₹6,396 crore.
Highlighting Karnataka’s railway growth, he said the state has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹7,748 crore. Since 2014, around 3,840 kilometres of railway lines have been developed and 3,742 kilometres electrified, bringing the state close to complete railway electrification.
He added that the number of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) in Karnataka has increased from around 150 before 2014 to 707 currently, with another 146 projects expected to be completed within the next year.
The Railways also aims to eliminate all level crossings in the state over the next three years.
Among those present during the virtual flag-off event were P. C. Mohan, Member of Parliament from Bengaluru Central; Lehar Singh Siroya, Rajya Sabha MP; and Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South, along with senior railway officials.
TNT KM
