Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express from Bengaluru.
The new train service is aimed at providing faster rail connectivity between Bengaluru, Coastal Karnataka and Goa. It will connect key destinations from Hassan and Sakleshpur to Mangaluru, Udupi, Gokarna and Karwar, before reaching Madgaon in Goa, making travel easier and giving tourism a boost.
Speaking on the occasion, Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board said “The Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express is not just about a non-stop journey but also about offering a picturesque and unforgettable travel experience. The train is set to boost tourism while significantly benefiting passengers,”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched a series of development projects worth over 15,600 crore rupees in Karnataka, covering metro connectivity, railways, renewable energy, power transmission and petroleum infrastructure.
Addressing a major infrastructure milestone, the Prime Minister inaugurated the 7.5-kilometre Bengaluru Metro Pink Line stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere, covering six stations.
With this, Bengaluru’s operational metro network has crossed the 100-kilometre mark. The new stretch is expected to improve urban connectivity and ease traffic congestion. The Prime Minister also travelled on the new Metro line.
India’s operational metro network has expanded to over 1,200 kilometres across 26 cities from 248 kilometres in five cities in 2014, with nearly 1,000 kilometres of additional lines under construction.
In the railway sector, Mr Modi inaugurated four redeveloped stations under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme at Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road. He also dedicated the 45-kilometre Bagalkot-Wandal railway doubling section and the electrified 55-kilometre Sakleshpur-Subramanya Ghat section to the nation.
The Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express was also flagged off, strengthening connectivity between Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka and Goa.
In the energy sector, the Prime Minister dedicated an 80,000-metric-tonne underground LPG storage cavern in Mangaluru, said to be the largest of its kind in the country.
He also dedicated the Devangonthi marketing terminal of MRPL and laid the foundation stone for a compressed biogas plant at Haralur Kunte, which will process 300 tonnes of municipal waste daily.
Several major renewable energy transmission projects were also inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for additional power transmission schemes to strengthen Karnataka’s renewable energy infrastructure.
The projects are expected to give a major boost to Karnataka’s urban mobility, railway connectivity, energy security and scientific infrastructure.
