Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to inaugurate the highly anticipated Vande Bharat Express linking Bengaluru to Madgaon via coastal Karnataka on November 13. This significant event, scheduled for 2 PM in Bengaluru, promises to dramatically enhance rail connectivity for Udupi, Mangaluru, and Karwar regions.
The new high-speed service will effectively bridge the state capital with the Karnataka coast, extending its reach up to Madgaon in Goa. While the Prime Minister will officially flag off the train remotely from Bengaluru, a parallel symbolic inauguration will take place at Mangaluru Junction. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, joined by Members of Parliament representing Mangaluru, Udupi, and Karwar, will mark the train's journey from the coast towards Bengaluru at this local ceremony.
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary confirmed these arrangements, emphasizing the long-cherished dream this service fulfills. The concept of a Vande Bharat connection between Bengaluru and the coast first emerged in 2019, envisioned by then-Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. However, its implementation faced delays due to incomplete electrification work along the challenging Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Ghat section.
The dream resurfaced once Indian Railways completed the full electrification of the Karwar-Mangaluru-Bengaluru route as part of its comprehensive project. Last year, during a visit to Bengaluru, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw officially announced the decision to introduce the Vande Bharat service on this route, which included trial runs between Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
Following the November 13 launch, the Vande Bharat Express will commence its regular operations from both Bengaluru and Madgaon directions starting November 15. MP Poojary expressed profound gratitude to Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the state's residents, particularly those in the coastal belt, for finally bringing this crucial rail link to fruition.
Image: Wikipedia — Narendra Modi
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi