Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Bengaluru–Mumbai Express, Announces Vande Bharat Sleeper Soon
Vaishnaw said the long-pending rail connectivity demands of north and south Karnataka are being addressed and announced that a Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to begin soon.
He highlighted major railway infrastructure investments in Karnataka, including redevelopment of 61 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of Rs 2,160 crore. Bengaluru Cantonment station is being upgraded at Rs 485 crore and Yeshwantpur station at Rs 367 crore.
Since 2014, around 1,750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka, while electrification works on the Hassan–Mangaluru section are nearing completion. Work on all four corridors of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project is also progressing, with land acquisition completed for key sections.
Vaishnaw said Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains and testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route is underway to improve coastal connectivity up to Madgaon. He also confirmed approval of bullet train corridors linking Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai as part of a broader high-speed rail network expansion plan.
Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna said Karnataka has received a record railway budget allocation of Rs 7,748 crore. He added that nearly 3,742 km of railway lines in the state have been electrified, taking Karnataka close to full railway electrification.
Published on:
18 May 2026
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