*Demand to Route Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper via Belagavi Gains Momentum*
Demand to Route Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper via Belagavi Gains Momentum
Pragativahini News/ Belagavi: The proposed Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper train has triggered a fresh debate over its route, with growing demands from Belagavi and parts of North Karnataka to ensure that the premium overnight service is operated through Hubballi–Dharwad–Belagavi–Miraj–Pune.
The Indian Railways has approved the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service, which is expected to provide faster overnight connectivity between the two metropolitan cities. According to reports, the proposed alignment is likely to pass through Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Raichur and Guntakal, leaving Belagavi outside the route.
The proposed routing has disappointed railway passengers and activists in Belagavi, Miraj, Sangli and adjoining regions. They argue that the Pune–Miraj–Belagavi–Hubballi corridor serves several important commercial and industrial centres and has already witnessed substantial investment in railway infrastructure.
Railway activists have also pointed out that the Solapur–Guntakal corridor is already heavily utilised, while the Pune–Sangli–Miraj–Belagavi–Hubballi route has comparatively fewer trains. They have therefore urged the Railway Ministry to consider the potential of the latter corridor for the new premium service.
Belagavi, being an important industrial, commercial and educational centre in North Karnataka and a major link between Karnataka and Maharashtra, has a strong passenger base for both Bengaluru and Mumbai. Supporters of the Belagavi route contend that including the city would provide direct overnight connectivity to a large population across North Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra.
The demand has also gained importance in view of the Central Government’s stated objective of strengthening railway connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced that the Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper service would be introduced soon.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a separate Bengaluru–Mumbai superfast service via Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi is also being planned, which could improve connectivity to the region.
However, passengers and railway activists maintain that Belagavi deserves consideration for the Vande Bharat Sleeper itself, given the city’s strategic location, passenger demand and economic importance.
They have urged the Union Government and Railway Board to undertake a comprehensive comparison of both corridors on the basis of passenger demand, infrastructure capacity, travel time, economic importance and regional development, and reconsider the routing if operationally feasible.
The issue is now emerging as an important regional connectivity demand, with stakeholders seeking equitable and balanced railway development for North Karnataka.
