Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the new train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai on Sunday, calling it a major boost to rail connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Speaking during the launch of Train No. 16553/54 SMVT Bengaluru – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, the Railway Minister said that long-pending demands of South and North Karnataka are now being fulfilled through rapid railway expansion and modernization projects.
He announced that the much-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to begin soon, significantly improving overnight travel between the two metro cities.
Highlighting infrastructure growth, Vaishnaw said Karnataka has witnessed a sharp rise in railway funding in recent years, accelerating several key projects across the state. Under the Indian Railways Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 61 railway stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped at a cost of ₹2,160 crore, of which nine stations have already been completed.
He stated that Bengaluru Cantonment railway station is being redeveloped at a cost of ₹485 crore, while Yeshwantpur Junction railway station is undergoing redevelopment worth ₹367 crore.
According to the Railway Minister, around 1,750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka since 2014. He added that electrification works on the challenging Hassan–Mangaluru railway section have been completed and testing is 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 construction work is underway.
He further stated that the KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli alignment has received joint approval from the State Government and Railways, and geotechnical surveys have been completed. The Kengeri–Whitefield corridor has also been approved, with survey work set to begin shortly.
The minister said the suburban rail network will improve connectivity to major hubs including Kempegowda International Airport, Electronic City, Marathahalli, and Hebbal.
Vaishnaw also noted that Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains and revealed that testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route is underway, which will strengthen coastal connectivity up to Madgaon.
In a major announcement, he said bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have been approved. He added that, in the long term, a 7,000-km high-speed rail network connecting Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other major cities is envisioned.
Union Minister V. Somanna thanked Vaishnaw for sanctioning the new Bengaluru–Mumbai train and said the service would greatly benefit passengers travelling on one of the country’s busiest rail routes.
Somanna stated that Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains covering 14 districts. He also announced that a Vande Bharat Sleeper maintenance depot will be established at Thanisandra at a cost of ₹270 crore, along with a chair car maintenance facility at SMVT Bengaluru costing ₹52.73 crore.
He added that major capacity enhancement works are underway, including doubling of the Baiyappanahalli–Hosur line worth ₹1,116 crore, Bettahalasuru–Rajanukunte doubling at ₹248 crore, and quadrupling works around Bengaluru costing ₹1,347 crore.
Automatic signalling projects are also being implemented across major railway sections including Yesvantpur, KSR Bengaluru, Lottegollahalli, Baiyappanahalli, Penukonda, Mysuru, and Jolarpettai at a total cost of ₹6,396 crore.
Somanna further said Karnataka has received a record railway budget allocation of ₹7,748 crore. Since 2014, nearly 3,840 km of railway lines have been developed and 3,742 km electrified, bringing the state close to 100% 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 146 more expected to be completed within the next year. The Railways aims to eliminate all level crossings in the state within the next three years.
The event was attended by P. C. Mohan, Lehar Singh Siroya, and Tejasvi Surya, who joined through video conference, along with senior officials of South Western Railway.
