MP Jagadish Shettar, Iranna Kadadi, former MP Mangala Angadi and others receiving the Vande Bharat train.
Belagavi
After a long wait, Belagavi’s Vande Bharat Express to Bengaluru finally started on Sunday, with a grand welcome at the city’s railway station. The service is operated by South Western Railway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express in the morning. At 8:30 pm, MP Jagadish Shettar received the train at Belagavi station, along with Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi, former MP Mangala Angadi, and other public representatives.
The launch had been delayed for over a year, despite repeated requests to extend the Hubballi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat to Belagavi. In the meantime, political tensions grew, with claims that Belagavi was being neglected. The service finally began after efforts by Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
The train will leave Belagavi at 5:20 am and reach Bengaluru at 1:50 pm. The return journey will leave Bengaluru at 2:20 pm and arrive in Belagavi at 10:40 pm. AC Executive Class tickets cost Rs 2,930, while AC Chair Car tickets are priced at Rs 1,630.
A large crowd of BJP workers and locals gathered at the station to greet the train. Passengers were given a warm welcome, and many people came to see the modern design of the Vande Bharat.
Speaking at the event, MP Shettar spoke about the challenges faced and the efforts taken to make the Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat a reality.
