New Bengaluru-Mumbai train flagged off; Vande Bharat sleeper on the cards

Bengaluru:  Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday virtually flagged off a new train service from SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express, Mumbai. 

Speaking at the launch, Vaishnaw announced that Vande Bharat sleeper service on the Bengaluru–Mumbai route would also be launched shortly.

Reviewing the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, Vaishnaw confirmed that work is underway across all 4 corridors. Land acquisition has been completed for Baiyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara and Heelalige–Rajanukunte corridors, and station construction has begun.

The KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli alignment has been jointly approved by the state government and railways, with geotechnical surveys finished. Surveys for the recently approved Kengeri–Whitefield alignment will begin soon. 

He said Karnataka now has 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains. Testing on Bengaluru–Mangaluru route is underway to improve coastal connectivity up to Madgaon. Bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have been approved, with a vision to expand the network to 7,000 km.