Poojary meets Vaishnaw, seeks VB Express between Bengaluru and the coast

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday impressed upon Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw the need for operating Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and the Karnataka coast.

Meeting Mr. Vaishnaw in New Delhi, Mr. Poojary said that every day over 600 buses operate between the coast and Bengaluru, ferrying thousands of passengers. Hundreds also travel by private vehicles between these destinations. Therefore, it was essential to introduce the semi-high-speed train between Bengaluru and Karwar via Mangaluru and Udupi, the MP said.

He said with the completion of Railway Electrification on Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat stretch of Hassan–Mangaluru line, decks are cleared for the introduction of electric-loco hauled trains, including the premium Vande Bharat Express.

Doubling Konkan Railway

At the same time, capacity expansion of Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) was also necessary for the overall development of the West Coast, the MP told Mr. Vaishnaw.

He said the Railway Ministry should immediately take up line doubling of the 734 km network of KRCL between Roha in Maharashtra and Thokur in Karnataka. The Ministry should also conduct the necessary survey and release funds.

Mr. Poojary noted that for years, residents of coastal Karnataka were deprived of quality Railway services, with KRCL not inclined to provide enhanced passenger amenities. The existing single line was the bottleneck for the overall development of the region, and it needs to be doubled at least. He said people in the coastal areas have high aspirations for the Narendra Modi government with regard to improved Railway services.