Daijiworld Media Network – Belagavi

Belagavi, Aug 5: The long-awaited demand for a high-speed rail connection between Belagavi and Bengaluru is set to become a reality, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to flag off the Vande Bharat Express on Sunday, August 10.

The announcement was made by union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution & new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. The prime minister will also flag off three new Vande Bharat trains during his upcoming visit to Karnataka.

File image of PM Modi flagging off a Vande Bharat train

According to Joshi, the three new services include:

• Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat Express

• Ajni (Nagpur)–Pune Vande Bharat Express

• Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express

The Bengaluru–Belagavi train will run in both directions, greatly enhancing connectivity across key cities in Karnataka.

“As per my earlier request, approval was granted for the Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat train,” Joshi posted. “It will depart from Belagavi at 5:20 am and arrive in Bengaluru at 1:50 pm. The return journey will commence from Bengaluru at 2:20 pm and reach Belagavi by 10:40 pm,” he added.

The new service is expected to significantly improve travel times and comfort for passengers commuting between Belagavi, Dharwad, Hubballi, Haveri, Davanagere, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru, providing a faster alternative to existing rail options.

Joshi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and minister of state for railways V Somanna for their support in making the route operational.

The launch of the Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express marks a significant step in Karnataka’s rail infrastructure development, meeting a longstanding demand from residents and commuters in northern Karnataka.