Bengaluru to Get Bullet Train Corridor Connecting Major Cities, Vande Bharat Services Announced

Bengaluru, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Sunday that Bengaluru will soon be connected to Hyderabad, Amaravati, and Chennai through a proposed “South Bullet Train Corridor.” He revealed that the Vande Bharat train service between Bengaluru and Mangaluru will begin in the coming weeks, following the completion of electrification and testing.

While inaugurating the Vande Bharat sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai during Karnataka Rajyotsava, Vaishnaw stated that Prime Minister Modi has approved the South Bullet Train Corridor. This new route aims to link major technological and economic hubs, boosting development in southern states.

Travel times will significantly decrease with this corridor. The journey from Bengaluru to Chennai is expected to take just 73 minutes, while the trip to Hyderabad will take approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.

“Bengaluru and Chennai will feel like one city,” Vaishnaw said. He emphasized that this connectivity will enhance economic integration among key cities in South India. As the nation moves towards the goal of a “developed India,” the Prime Minister has sanctioned a 4,000-kilometer bullet train corridor, with plans for an additional 3,000 kilometers to be announced soon.

Vaishnaw expressed optimism about the proposed Bengaluru-Pune bullet train corridor, which will traverse northern Karnataka, becoming a reality shortly.

Highlighting the need for better rail connectivity in Karnataka’s coastal regions, the minister pointed out that Mangaluru is a vital city. The electrification and testing for the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route will be completed in the next few weeks, allowing for a Vande Bharat train service that will provide excellent connectivity to the entire region.

Additionally, Vaishnaw announced another Vande Bharat sleeper service that will connect Bengaluru to northern Karnataka, heading towards Hubli and extending to Pune and Mumbai.

Regarding the new service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, he detailed that the train will pass through Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh, then return to Karnataka through Raichur, Yadgir, and Kalaburagi before heading to Maharashtra.

This route will cover a significant portion of northern Karnataka, an area that previously lacked sufficient rail connectivity. The route was finalized after discussions with Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and V. Somanna.

Vaishnaw noted that launching the sleeper service on November 1, coinciding with Karnataka Rajyotsava, is a fitting tribute. He emphasized that the Prime Minister instructed the railway to consider the needs of the common man and middle-class families when introducing modern rail services, ensuring benefits for the most disadvantaged, youth, and women.

“In line with this directive, three different types of trains—Namo Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Vande Bharat—have been launched to serve the public,” he said. This new sleeper service will connect Bengaluru, the country’s technology hub, with Mumbai, the economic capital.

After the announcement of the proposed bullet train corridor, Union Minister Joshi congratulated Vaishnaw, and the leaders collectively raised the slogan “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”