PM Virtually flags off Vande Bharat Express between Mangaluru and Goa

In a historic moment for Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new trains, marking a significant leap in the state’s railway infrastructure. The Vande Bharat (VB) Express to Madgaon, which was part of this inauguration, left the Mangaluru Central railway station at 12:10 p.m. after a virtual flag-off by the Prime Minister from Ayodhaya Dham Junction in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

The train’s inaugural run saw all eight coaches of the Vande Bharat Express to Madgaon filled with passengers. Among them were several elected representatives, officials, and even Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists, including prominent figures like Mangaluru city MLAs D. Vedavyasa Kamath and Y. Bharath Shetty, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel, and BJP MLC Pratap Simha Nayak.

Loco pilots C. Dinesan and S.H. Padwal, along with Assistant Loco Pilots Yogesh Bandekar and Girish Phayde, handled the inaugural run from Mangaluru to Madgaon. The delay in departure was attributed to the Prime Minister’s roadshow in Ayodhya, but the virtual flag-off eventually took place around noon.

The train’s journey attracted a considerable number of passengers who boarded at 10:30 a.m., and souvenir tickets were issued to commemorate the occasion. Despite the delay, the event witnessed the Prime Minister flagging off not only the Vande Bharat Express to Madgaon but also five other VB express trains, including one from Coimbatore Junction in Tamil Nadu to Bengaluru Cantonment, and two Amrit Bharat trains, including one from Malda in West Bengal to SMVT-Bengaluru.

Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who was present at the inaugural run, shared details about the Vande Bharat Express’s schedule. He highlighted that the train would leave Mangaluru Central at 8:30 a.m., reaching Madgaon at 1:10 p.m., making it a crucial and convenient mode of transportation for the passengers.

Emotional about the work accomplished during his three terms as MP, Kateel mentioned the criticism faced and defended his service, stating that projects amounting to ₹83,000 crore had been executed in his 15 years as MP. He emphasized that the VB Express would benefit the passengers and tourists of Udupi, Karwar, and Goa.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious rail projects for Karnataka also include the Coimbatore Junction – Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express and the Mangaluru Central – Madgaon Vande Bharat Express services operated by Southern Railway. Additionally, a new Amrit Bharat Express between Malda Town – SMVT Bengaluru was inaugurated.

The Prime Minister’s vision for enhanced railway connectivity reflects a step towards a more accessible and efficient transportation system, with further plans for electrification and the introduction of Vande Bharat Express between Mangaluru and Kochi anticipated in April 2024. The train services are expected to boost tourism and connectivity across Karnataka, contributing to the state’s development

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