Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains at the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Bengaluru.
He inaugurated the new Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Belagavi in Karnataka and boarded the train, interacting with students and children on board. At the inauguration venue, he greeted railway staff and waved to commuters.
The Prime Minister also flagged off two other Vande Bharat services – Amritsar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra were among the dignitaries present.
As the Bengaluru–Belagavi service commenced, PM Modi and other dignitaries waved to passengers, while commuters raised slogans in his support. The new service, operating six days a week, is Karnataka’s 11th Vande Bharat train and will benefit commuters across eight districts, enhancing connectivity between north and south Karnataka.
Following the railway event, the Prime Minister proceeded to the R.V. Road (Ragigudda) Metro Station to inaugurate Phase 3 of Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro.
BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said the Prime Minister was dedicating two major transport projects to the city.
“Once operational, Metro Phase 3 is expected to serve around 10 lakh daily commuters, while the Yellow Line will directly benefit 18 lakh people in Bengaluru South,” Surya said.
He added that PM Modi had personally ensured the Yellow Line’s inauguration was not delayed, fixing the date within a week of receiving the request. “I congratulate him on behalf of the people of Bengaluru and Karnataka,” Surya said.
(With inputs from IANS)