Premium Bengaluru–Mumbai Train Service to Launch Soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Railway Minister says Karnataka gets record ₹7,748 crore allocation; major rail projects to move faster
A premium train service connecting Bengaluru and Mumbai will begin soon, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vaishnaw said Karnataka has received a record ₹7,748 crore in the current railway budget—nearly nine times higher than the allocation during the Congress-led UPA government. He added that the total railway investment in the state has now reached ₹52,950 crore.
The minister said this massive investment will be used for new railway tracks, station redevelopment, safety improvements, better passenger announcements, the Bengaluru suburban rail project, and several other new initiatives across Karnataka.
Confirming the new premium train, Vaishnaw said requests had come from several quarters, including Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.
“Many railway sections are being doubled. Because of this, we will soon be able to introduce more train services, including the premium Bengaluru–Mumbai train,” he said.
Vande Bharat to Mangaluru Awaiting Final Clearance
On the proposed Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, the minister said electrification testing and certification are currently underway.
“Once the process is completed, we will share the details very soon,” he said.
Bullet Train Plans and Land Acquisition
Vaishnaw also spoke about the bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Chennai and Hyderabad, which were announced in the Union Budget. He said these corridors would boost economic growth and called the three cities the “high-speed diamonds of South India.”
He added that a lot of groundwork has already been completed and that Indian railway engineers and industries now have the capability to execute such large projects quickly.
On land acquisition, the minister said the Centre is continuously seeking cooperation from the Karnataka government, as land is a state subject.
“We believe in cooperative federalism. Our focus is on development, not blame games,” he said.
Bengaluru Suburban Rail and Other Projects
Vaishnaw said the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project has gained momentum after a railway officer was appointed Managing Director of K-RIDE. Designs have been completed, tenders prepared, and necessary approvals obtained. He noted that much of the network will be elevated and aligned with existing railway lines.
He also expressed concern over the Yesvantpur–Kolar railway line, stating that the state government had withdrawn its support.
“Bengaluru’s development is very important. We must increase railway capacity and build more lines to meet future demand,” he said.
