PM Modi virtually flags off Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat express

Mangaluru/Udupi, Dec 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off Vande Bharat express train between Mangaluru and Madgaon on Saturday, December 30 through video conference.

A programme was held at Mangaluru Central railway station. Addressing the gathering, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel emphasized the importance of such specialised trains and how they will play a key role in connecting different states. He said, "I have witnessed lot of criticism. Yet the people of the district liked me and choose me i have tried my best to serve them best to my possibility. This platform was requested from long time but it constructed after long time but today there are two platforms and it's all because of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kerala to Karnataka routes are getting electrification very rapidly and it will complete very quickly. Now we are doing electrification of routes from Mangaluru to Bengaluru and we hope that even that finishes very quickly and after that the connectivity to Bengaluru will very helpful for the people."

According to the temporary schedule, the Vande Bharat express train will depart from Mangaluru Central at 8.30 am and reach Madgaon at 1.05 pm. The same train will depart Madgaon at 6.10 pm and reach Mangaluru central at 10.45 pm. The train will halt at the renewed pit-line in Mangaluru central during night.

PM Modi simultaneously flagged off two Amrit Bharat trains and six Vande Bharat express trains including Mangaluru Central-Madgaon.

MLAs Bharath Shetty and Vedavyas Kamath, mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur, MLC Prathapsimha Nayak, deputy mayor Sunita and others were present.

The newly introduced Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat train received a warm welcome at the Indrali railway station in Udupi district later on Saturday. The event saw the presence of central minister Shobha Karandlaje, along with MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gururaj Gantihole, Gurme Suresh Shetty, and V Sunil Kumar, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, deputy commissioner Dr Vidyakumari, superintendent of police Dr Arun K, zilla panchayat CEO Prasanna, and other dignitaries.

The Vande Bharat train is scheduled to operate daily between Mangaluru and Madgaon. The welcome ceremony drew the participation of hundreds of people, marking the inauguration of this new railway service.