M’luru-B’luru Vande Bharat from next month: Somanna

Mangaluru: A new Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat service is all set to be rolled out next month.

Announcing this, Union minister of state for Railways V Somanna, who inspected Mangaluru Junction railway station Saturday, told reporters electrification work on the stretch has been completed. He added Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the train on the new route.

“Next month, the Prime Minister will flag off a few Vande Bharat Express trains. Among those is the Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat,” the minister said.

A feasibility study is also under way to develop a new railway station near Mangaluru International Airport, Somanna added.

He said the Mangaluru-Subrahmanya Road passenger train has emerged a convenient option for a large section of passengers and the demand to convert it into a MEMU service is under consideration.

The Mangaluru Junction railway station is currently undergoing upgradation at a cost of Rs 38 crore. The renovated station will be formally opened in Oct.

The Mangaluru Junction Yard, with an additional freight track, will be developed at a cost of Rs 40 crore. Land for the yard has already been acquired, and the project is likely to be completed in March 2027.

Meanwhile, a masterplan is being prepared for the development of Mangaluru Central railway station, which will be taken up at the earliest, the minister added.

New Railway Line

Somanna said, the ministry has approved a new line on the Shivamogga--Sringeri-Mangaluru route at a cost of Rs 3,300 crore. Final location survey (FLS) has already been completed on the proposed 332 kms track, and tenders will be invited soon.

Track doubling work on the 247 km Hassan-Mangaluru stretch will be taken at a cost of Rs 8,300 crore. FLS is currently being carried out on the ghat section, and a DPR is under verification.

Somanna said a survey has been completed to increase the speed of trains on the 306 km stretch between Shornur and Mangaluru to 160 kmph. A DPR will be prepared soon.