Narendra Modi Flags Off Yesvantpur-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the new Yesvantpur–Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express from Bengaluru on November 13, with regular services scheduled to begin on November 15. The semi-high-speed train connects Yesvantpur in Bengaluru to Madgaon in Goa, serving coastal Karnataka with stops at Sakleshpur, Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapura, Murdeshwar, Gokarna, and Karwar.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended a symbolic flag-off ceremony at Mangaluru Junction and confirmed that technical challenges involving train modifications for steep ghat sections and electrification have been resolved. During a train inspection in Mangaluru, Vaishnaw also announced the launch of an FM transmitter in Udupi and discussed the potential merger of Konkan Railway with Indian Railways, noting that the move depends on consent from the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Addressing claims by Karnataka minister MB Patil that the state was being excluded from major projects, Vaishnaw defended the central government's investment in the region. He cited approximately 75,000 crore rupees in ongoing projects, including station redevelopment and a bullet train, to improve rail infrastructure in Karnataka.