Bengaluru, Aug 10 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off services of three Vande Bharat trains from the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Train Station in Bengaluru, enhancing regional connectivity and boosting tourism and trade.
Physically present at the station, PM Modi inaugurated the Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat Express, Karnataka’s 11th such service, which will run six days a week and benefit commuters across eight districts in north and south Karnataka. The service is expected to be a boon for passengers travelling between the state capital and the border city.
The Prime Minister also virtually flagged off two other routes — Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Nagpur (Ajni)–Pune. In a post on X, he wrote: “Delighted to flag off… These trains will boost tourism, commerce, and connectivity.”
At the station, Modi interacted with students, viewed their drawings and posters, and waved to cheering crowds carrying the Tricolour. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoS Railways V. Somanna, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra attended the ceremony.
As the Bengaluru–Belagavi train departed, commuters raised slogans in support of the Prime Minister, who waved to passengers along with other dignitaries.
In Jammu and Kashmir, MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh hailed the Amritsar–Katra service as a historic moment, easing travel for devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha thanked the PM, noting unprecedented railway growth in the region.
The Amritsar–Katra Vande Bharat will operate six days a week (except Tuesday), departing Katra at 6:40 a.m. and Amritsar at 4:25 p.m. The launch follows another milestone — the arrival of the first freight train in Anantnag from Punjab, carrying cement for infrastructure projects, expected to lower costs and boost the local economy.
