States » SouthPosted at: Nov 1 2026 1:54PM


First South India Vande Bharat Sleeper flagged off

Bengaluru, Nov 1 (UNI) union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday flagged off the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express at Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal here, describing it as a significant addition to railway connectivity between two major economic hubs.
In a post on X, Joshi said the train, the first Vande Bharat Sleeper service in South India, would cover approximately 1,118 km in 16 hours, potentially saving passengers around eight hours compared to the existing travel time.
He said the service would strengthen connectivity through Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Ranebennur and Hubballi-Dharwad, providing a major boost to railway infrastructure and passenger convenience in Karnataka.
Joshi highlighted the Centre's increased allocation for railway development in Karnataka, saying the annual railway grant, which stood at around Rs 700 crore before 2014, had risen to Rs 7,000–8,000 crore.
He said the Centre had allocated Rs 7,748 crore to Karnataka for railway development in the 2026-27 union Budget.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Indian Railways was witnessing significant modernisation through advanced technology, improved infrastructure and enhanced safety systems, Joshi said.
He also referred to the implementation of the Kavach safety system, technological advancements enabling trains to operate at speeds of up to 180 kmph under challenging track conditions, and the increasing use of solar energy in the railway sector.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje, MPs PC Mohan, CN Manjunath, Tejasvi Surya, Lehar Singh Siroya and Jaggesh, former MP Umesh Jadhav and senior railway officials were present on the occasion.
UNI BDN
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