PM Modi Inaugurates 3 Vande Bharat Trains from Bengaluru; Belagavi Receives Its Second Semi-High-Speed Service

On Sunday, August 10, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new Vande Bharat Express trains, expanding the semi-high-speed rail network in India to 75 operational trains nationwide. The newly launched routes are:

1. Bengaluru–Belagavi (Karnataka)

2. Ajni (Nagpur)–Pune (Maharashtra)

3. Katra (Jammu & Kashmir)–Amritsar (Punjab)

The trains were flagged off at 11:30 am from the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Bengaluru station. Bengaluru already operates seven Vande Bharat trains, making this the second service for Belagavi.

According to Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Divisional Railway Manager of Bengaluru, there had been a consistent demand for a faster, more efficient rail service between Belagavi and Bengaluru. The decision to launch the new service followed a demand survey and requests from local representatives.

The KSR Bengaluru–Belagavi Vande Bharat Express is Karnataka’s eleventh such train. It features an eight-car configuration with 530 seats and is the fastest train on the route, covering 611 km in 8.5 hours — 1 hour 20 minutes faster than existing options.

Belagavi is known for its medical and engineering institutions, while Bengaluru is recognized as India’s Silicon Valley. The route passes through economically and educationally significant regions:

• Dharwad – prominent for educational institutions

• Hubballi – a major commercial and industrial hub

• Haveri – an emerging agricultural center

• Davangere – notable for textile and agriculture

• Tumakuru – growing as an industrial and educational hub

The train also travels through a sugarcane-rich belt, expected to boost economic growth and strengthen connectivity for diverse communities.

The other two trains will serve key regional corridors:

• Ajni (Nagpur)–Pune Vande Bharat: covering Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Akola, Jalgaon, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Pune — connecting major districts of Maharashtra.

• Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Amritsar Vande Bharat: covering Reasi, Jammu, Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Amritsar, improving links in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.

Since the first Vande Bharat service between New Delhi and Varanasi on February 17, 2019, these trains have carried 6.3 crore passengers, significantly contributing to connectivity, travel efficiency, and regional economic development.

Vande Bharat trains are designed for semi-high-speed travel, offering modern facilities and faster journey times compared to conventional express services. With the current expansion, the network now serves a broader mix of educational hubs, industrial zones, agricultural regions, and religious destinations across India, reinforcing the government’s focus on enhancing rail infrastructure and passenger convenience.

By connecting urban centers with smaller towns and regions rich in industry and agriculture, the Vande Bharat initiative continues to be a symbol of India’s modern rail transformation, catering to passenger demand while encouraging local and regional economic activities.