Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to virtually flag off the Inaugural Special Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express at Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal today. The second Vande Bharat train in Karnataka will be flagged off after launching the Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai Vande Bharat train in November last year, making it the first for southern India.
According to South Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Anees Hegde, the Dharwad-KSR Bengaluru Inaugural Special will depart from Dharwad at 10:30 a.m. and leave for KSR Bengaluru five minutes later. Travel time for the train is roughly 6 hours and 25 minutes, around 30 minutes shorter than before.
The train will depart KSR Bengaluru at 5.45 am and arrive at Hubballi at 11.30 am and Dharwad at 12.10 pm. From Dharwad, the train will depart at 1.15 pm and arrive at KSR Bengaluru at 7.45 pm. Commercial operations will begin on June 28 from both ends, running six days a week except for Tuesdays.
The ticket price for AC Chair from KSR Bengaluru to SSS Hubballi will cost Rs 1,135, while it will cost Rs 1,165 from Bengaluru to Dharwad. For Executive Class, it will cost Rs 2,180 from KSR Bengaluru to SSS Hubballi, and Rs 2,010 for the same class from KSR Bengaluru to Dharwad.
Expected attendees at the flagging off ceremony include Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, and other dignitaries at Dharwad Railway Station. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will likely join the event via video link.
Operated by South Western Railway, the new Vande Bharat Express aims to provide a comfortable and affordable mode of transport for passengers. With faster travel times and modern amenities, the train offers a convenient transportation option for travel between Dharwad and Bengaluru.
