<p>Hubballi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the extension of Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express till Belagavi. He also gave a green signal for the train to originate from Belagavi, instead of Bengaluru to better serve the people of North Karnataka region.</p><p>Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express began its commercial operation in June 2023 and it has been successfully running with more than 85% occupancy. To facilitate people from Belagavi district, there was a demand to extend the train till Belagavi. Elected representatives, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MP Jagadish Shettar and leaders from Belagavi pressurised the Railway Minister to extend the train.</p><p>Following the demand, last year, a trial run was also conducted between Bengaluru and Belagavi to check the feasibility of the train. It took about eight hours from Bengaluru to Belagavi at a maximum speed of 110 kmph. The train departed Bengaluru at 5:45 am and reached Belagavi at 1:40 pm. In return direction, the train had left Belagavi at 2:00 pm and reached Bengaluru at 10:10 pm. The travel time between Dharwad to Belagavi took around two hours.</p><p>Recently Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi and discussed the extension of the train. For the demand, Vaishnaw positively responded and also assured of originating the train from Belagavi.</p><p><strong>Meeting with SWR</strong></p><p>It can be noted that Joshi conducted a meeting with South Western Railway (SWR) officials, including the General Manager, Hubballi Division Railway Manager and others and discussed the feasibility of extending the VB Express to Belagavi. It is said the railway officials also gave a positive feedback on the extension. On the direction of Joshi, the railway officials had given a report to the railway minister regarding the extension of the train. </p><p>For the period of nine months (April to December 2024) the Bengaluru-Dharwad VB Express recorded 85.95% occupancy (1.07 lakh passengers) and generated Rs 10.51 crore revenue. For the same period, Dharwad-Bengaluru VB Express recorded 88.67% occupancy (1.10 lakh passengers) and generated Rs 12.81 crore revenue.</p><p>It is expected that with the extension to Belagavi, and changed timings the VB Express will record cent percent occupancy and bring more revenue to the SWR.</p><p><strong>Opposition</strong> </p><p>Meanwhile, a section of people have opposed the extension of Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express, saying it will consume more time and the purpose of semi-high speed trains is to reduce time. They also said it is not good to sit for eight hours in the train to reach Bengaluru from Belagavi. However, amid opposition, the government approved the extension of the train to Belagavi.</p>
<p>Hubballi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the extension of Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express till Belagavi. He also gave a green signal for the train to originate from Belagavi, instead of Bengaluru to better serve the people of North Karnataka region.</p><p>Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express began its commercial operation in June 2023 and it has been successfully running with more than 85% occupancy. To facilitate people from Belagavi district, there was a demand to extend the train till Belagavi. Elected representatives, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MP Jagadish Shettar and leaders from Belagavi pressurised the Railway Minister to extend the train.</p><p>Following the demand, last year, a trial run was also conducted between Bengaluru and Belagavi to check the feasibility of the train. It took about eight hours from Bengaluru to Belagavi at a maximum speed of 110 kmph. The train departed Bengaluru at 5:45 am and reached Belagavi at 1:40 pm. In return direction, the train had left Belagavi at 2:00 pm and reached Bengaluru at 10:10 pm. The travel time between Dharwad to Belagavi took around two hours.</p><p>Recently Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi and discussed the extension of the train. For the demand, Vaishnaw positively responded and also assured of originating the train from Belagavi.</p><p><strong>Meeting with SWR</strong></p><p>It can be noted that Joshi conducted a meeting with South Western Railway (SWR) officials, including the General Manager, Hubballi Division Railway Manager and others and discussed the feasibility of extending the VB Express to Belagavi. It is said the railway officials also gave a positive feedback on the extension. On the direction of Joshi, the railway officials had given a report to the railway minister regarding the extension of the train. </p><p>For the period of nine months (April to December 2024) the Bengaluru-Dharwad VB Express recorded 85.95% occupancy (1.07 lakh passengers) and generated Rs 10.51 crore revenue. For the same period, Dharwad-Bengaluru VB Express recorded 88.67% occupancy (1.10 lakh passengers) and generated Rs 12.81 crore revenue.</p><p>It is expected that with the extension to Belagavi, and changed timings the VB Express will record cent percent occupancy and bring more revenue to the SWR.</p><p><strong>Opposition</strong> </p><p>Meanwhile, a section of people have opposed the extension of Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express, saying it will consume more time and the purpose of semi-high speed trains is to reduce time. They also said it is not good to sit for eight hours in the train to reach Bengaluru from Belagavi. However, amid opposition, the government approved the extension of the train to Belagavi.</p>