Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil writes to Centre seeking express train between Bengaluru and Vijayapura

With the completion of the 9.6-km double line railway work between Almatti and Wandal, which has been opened for traffic since March 25, Karnataka’s Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil has sought the introduction of a long-pending express train service between Bengaluru and Vijayapura.

This would reduce the travel time between these cities to about 10 hours from the present 15.

Mr. Patil has written in this regard on March 30 to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna.

In the letter, he pointed out that the Almatti–Wandal section, part of the Gadag–Hotgi double line project, has now been completed. During an earlier meeting, it was mentioned that once this work would get finished, an express train between Bengaluru and Vijayapura could be introduced. He has now requested that this should be given priority.

He also requested that trains from Bengaluru to Vijayapura be given limited stops upto Hubballi, and that they be routed via the Hubballi and Gadag bypass line to reduce travel time.