New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the Bengaluru-Mumbai Express train on Saturday, strengthening rail connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra. He also announced that the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai would begin soon.
Addressing the event, the Railway Minister said several long-pending railway demands of South and North Karnataka were now being fulfilled. He highlighted major infrastructure expansion projects and increased railway funding in Karnataka in recent years.
Ashwini Vaishnaw said 61 railway stations in Karnataka were being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of ₹2,160 crore. According to him, authorities already completed redevelopment works at nine stations.
He stated that Bengaluru Cantonment station redevelopment was progressing at a cost of ₹485 crore, while Yeshwantpur station works were underway at ₹367 crore. Since 2014, about 1,750 kilometres of new railway lines have also been constructed across Karnataka.
The Railway Minister further said electrification works in the Hassan–Mangaluru railway section had been completed and testing was currently underway.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Express announcement highlights railway expansion
Ashwini Vaishnaw also reviewed progress of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project. He said work was progressing across all four corridors under the suburban network project.
According to him, land acquisition for the Baiyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara and Heelalige–Rajanukunte corridors had already been completed. Station construction works were now in progress in these sections.
The Minister said the KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli alignment received approval from both the Railways and the Karnataka government. He added that geotechnical surveys for the route were completed recently.
Vaishnaw also announced that the Kengeri–Whitefield alignment had been approved and survey work would begin shortly. He said the suburban railway network would connect major hubs including the airport, Electronic City, Marathahalli, and Hebbal.
The Railway Minister further stated that Karnataka currently operated 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains. He added that testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route was underway and would improve coastal rail connectivity up to Madgaon.
Ashwini Vaishnaw also said bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai had received approval. According to him, the long-term railway network vision aimed to expand connectivity across nearly 7,000 kilometres.
Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna also attended the programme and highlighted major railway infrastructure projects currently underway in Karnataka.
🚆 New Express train between Bengaluru – Mumbai flagged off.
✅ Strengthening direct connectivity between Karnataka & Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/yCJr4I4XT2
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) May 17, 2026
