Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express today in the presence of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The new service will provide faster and more comfortable rail connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka, and Goa, covering an important coastal and Western Ghats corridor.
As part of the launch, an inaugural special Vande Bharat Express will operate between Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), Bengaluru, and Madgaon. Another special train will depart from Mangaluru Junction for SMVT Bengaluru.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new service would connect coastal Karnataka with Bengaluru.
16-Coach Train with Modern Passenger Amenities
The 16-coach Vande Bharat Express will feature Executive Chair Car and Chair Car coaches. It will serve passengers across Bengaluru Urban, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts, as well as South Goa.
The train will offer several modern passenger amenities, including bio-vacuum toilets with touch-free facilities, automatic doors and onboard infotainment systems. Executive Class passengers will also have access to revolving seats. The train will feature specially designed lavatories for Divyangjan passengers and will be capable of reaching 100 kilometres per hour in just 52 seconds.
The service will be equipped with Kavach, India’s indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System. It will improve connectivity for students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and business travellers, while also supporting tourism in Coastal Karnataka and Goa.
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Four Redeveloped Railway Stations to Be Inaugurated
Along with the Vande Bharat Express launch, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate four redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These include stations in Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur, and Subrahmanya Road.
The redeveloped stations will provide improved passenger amenities and support local commercial activities and tourism in the region.
Railway Line Doubling and Electrification Projects
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the 45-kilometre Bagalkot-Wandal railway line doubling section to the nation. The section is part of the 284-kilometre Gadag-Hospet Doubling Project.
Additionally, he will dedicate the electrification of the 55-kilometre Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat railway section to the nation.