Bengaluru-Mumbai express train service has been launched by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. It adds a new express connection between Karnataka and Maharashtra. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Bengaluru-Mumbai express train launched
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The train was named the SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express. It was flagged off virtually, according to the Press Information Bureau. Also, Vaishnaw said a Vande Bharat sleeper service is expected soon on the Bengaluru-Mumbai route.

Alongside the launch, the Union Minister outlined progress on several railway works in Karnataka. The update covered the new train, suburban rail corridors, station redevelopment, and electrification. It also covered proposed bullet train corridors. Those corridors would link Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai.

Karnataka railway projects and station redevelopment

Railway infrastructure spending in Karnataka has increased, helping accelerate project execution. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 61 stations in the state are being redeveloped. The investment is ₹2,160 crore. Work has already been completed at nine stations. For example, Bengaluru Cantonment station is being redeveloped at a cost of ₹485 crore. Meanwhile, the Yeshwantpur station redevelopment is valued at ₹367 crore.

Since 2014, about 1,750 km of new railway lines have been built in Karnataka. Electrification of the Hassan–Mangaluru section has also been completed, with testing currently underway.

Work on the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project is progressing across all four corridors. Land acquisition has been completed for the Baiyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara and Heelalige–Rajanukunte corridors. Station construction is underway on both corridors. In addition, the KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli alignment has received approvals. Survey work for the Kengeri–Whitefield corridor is expected to begin shortly.

Vande Bharat, signalling and Bengaluru rail works

Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains. Meanwhile, testing is underway on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route. Bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have also been approved.

Additional railway investments include the Vande Bharat sleeper maintenance depot at Thanisandra. Its value is ₹270 crore. They also include a ₹52.73 crore chair car maintenance facility at SMVT Bengaluru. Doubling and quadrupling works around Bengaluru are in progress. At the same time, automatic signalling projects worth ₹6,396 crore are being implemented.

Separately, Karnataka has received a railway budget allocation of ₹7,748 crore. Since 2014, 3,742 km of railway lines in the state have been electrified.

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