PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express train
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains here on Sunday, including the 11th from Karnataka.
The trains connect Bengaluru to Belagavi, Ajni (Nagpur) to Pune and Amritsar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
Modi physically flagged off the Belagavi-Bengaluru-Belagavi Vande Bharat Express, while the other two trains were given the go-ahead virtually.
Following the flag-off, the inaugural train departed from Belagavi.
The regular service — Belagavi-Bengaluru-Belagavi Vande Bharat Express (20752/20751) — will begin passenger service on August 11. It will leave Belagavi at 5.20 am and reach KSR Bengaluru at 1.50 pm. In the return direction, it will depart from KSR Bengaluru at 2.20 pm and reach Belagavi at 10.40 pm.
Due to the flag-off ceremony, the South Western Railway (SWR) brought in elaborate changes at KSR Bengaluru, the busiest train station in Karnataka.
The station's second entrance (towards Okalipuram) and four platforms (7-10) were shut to the public.
The SWR initially cancelled six trains (66551, 66552, 66567, 66572, 06581 and 06582) but restored them following a public backlash.
Some trains had their origin/destination points changed from KSR Bengaluru to Yeshwantpur and Kengeri. Some others have been short-terminated/short-originated at alternative stations such as Bengaluru Cantonment, Yeshwantpur, Kengeri and Chikkabanavar. A few trains are starting late.
While the SWR maintained that the changes ensure "minimal disruption to passenger services," many were unhappy with the disruptions.
A passenger from Hubballi told DH: "I didn’t know about the diversion. I woke up to find the train here at Yeshwantpur. My friends are stuck at KSR, and I'm waiting for them."
Shristi, a student travelling home, said, "I’ve been waiting for my train since 8 am. It's delayed due to the programme at KSR Bengaluru."