Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces major rail infrastructure push across Karnataka with suburban rail, station redevelopment and high-speed corridor plans

Key Highlights

• New Bengaluru–Mumbai Express train flagged off virtually by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
• Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train expected to launch soon
• Karnataka receives record railway allocation of ₹7,748 crore
• 61 railway stations under redevelopment through Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
• Bengaluru Cantonment and Yeshwantpur stations undergoing major upgrades
• Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project progressing across all four corridors
• Bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai approved
• Karnataka nearing 100% railway electrification

India’s rail connectivity push received another boost as Union Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the new Bengaluru–Mumbai Express train, strengthening passenger connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra on one of South India’s busiest rail corridors.

The launch of Train No. 16553/54 SMVT Bengaluru – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express is expected to improve travel convenience for business travellers, tourists and long-distance passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to Start Soon

During the event, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the much-awaited Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service is expected to begin operations soon, further reducing travel time between the two metro cities.

The Railway Minister stated that long-pending railway demands of South and North Karnataka are now being addressed through accelerated infrastructure development and increased budgetary support.

Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains, covering 14 districts across the state. Testing on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route is also underway, which is expected to improve rail connectivity towards the coastal region up to Madgaon.

Massive Railway Infrastructure Expansion Across Karnataka

Highlighting ongoing railway modernisation efforts, the Minister said Karnataka has seen a significant rise in railway funding since 2014, helping fast-track multiple projects.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:

• 61 stations are being redeveloped at a cost of ₹2,160 crore
• 9 stations have already been completed
• Bengaluru Cantonment station is being upgraded at ₹485 crore
• Yeshwantpur station redevelopment is underway at ₹367 crore

The Ministry informed that around 1,750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka since 2014. Electrification work on the strategically important Hassan–Mangaluru section has also been completed, with testing currently in progress.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project Gains Momentum

The Railway Minister said work is progressing across all four corridors of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, a key urban mobility initiative aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city.

Key updates include:

• Land acquisition completed for Baiyappanahalli–Chikkabanavara and Heelalige–Rajanukunte corridors
• Station construction work currently underway
• KSR Bengaluru–Devanahalli alignment jointly approved by Railways and Karnataka Government
• Geotechnical survey completed for the Devanahalli corridor
• Kengeri–Whitefield corridor approved recently, with survey work to begin soon

The suburban rail network is expected to connect major hubs including:

• Kempegowda International Airport
• Electronic City
• Marathahalli
• Hebbal

Bullet Train Corridors Approved for Bengaluru

Shri Vaishnaw also announced that bullet train corridors connecting Bengaluru with Hyderabad and Chennai have been approved as part of India’s long-term high-speed rail expansion strategy.

He added that the proposed high-speed rail network connecting Mumbai, Bengaluru and other major cities could eventually expand to nearly 7,000 km.

Railway Capacity Expansion and Electrification Projects

Union Minister of State for Railways Shri V. Somanna highlighted several ongoing rail capacity enhancement projects in Karnataka, including:

• Doubling of Baiyappanahalli–Hosur line at ₹1,116 crore
• Bettahalasuru–Rajanukunte doubling at ₹248 crore
• Quadrupling projects around Bengaluru worth ₹1,347 crore

He also announced:

• A Vande Bharat Sleeper maintenance depot at Thanisandra costing ₹270 crore
• Chair car maintenance facility at SMVT Bengaluru at ₹52.73 crore

Automatic signalling projects are also being implemented across major sections including:

• Yesvantpur
• KSR Bengaluru
• Baiyappanahalli
• Mysuru
• Jolarpettai

These projects are being executed at a combined investment of ₹6,396 crore.

Karnataka Nearing Full Railway Electrification

According to the Ministry, Karnataka is approaching 100% railway electrification, with:

• 3,840 km of railway lines developed since 2014
• 3,742 km electrified so far

The number of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) has also increased significantly from around 150 before 2014 to 707 currently. Another 146 ROBs/RUBs are expected to be completed within the next year.

The Ministry further stated that all railway level crossings in Karnataka are targeted for elimination over the next three years, aimed at improving rail safety and reducing traffic bottlenecks.