Newsroom, December 25, 2025: Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister has called on the Railway Ministry to launch three Vande Bharat Express services linking Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
The proposal, sent in a formal letter, seeks weekday departures from Mangaluru early morning, mid-morning, and evening, with same-day returns to support business, education, and professional travel.
Leaders argue the current options force full-day commitments for short trips, limiting Mangaluru's rise as a hub for commerce, culture, and learning.
Recent electrification of the Western Ghats section now enables high-speed premium trains on this corridor.
While a Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat already runs, demands grow for direct Bengaluru access. Separate calls seek extensions toward Goa to enhance tourism, pilgrimage, and ties between Bengaluru's IT sector and coastal ports, naval bases, and educational institutions.
