Vande Bharat to Slash Bengaluru-Mangaluru Travel to 5 Hours!

• Vande Bharat Express set to launch between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, drastically cutting travel time from 9-10 hours to approximately 5 hours.
• The new service will boost tourism and business, making same-day return trips feasible and reducing reliance on road travel through the Western Ghats.
• Key districts like Tumakuru and Hassan, along with pilgrimage centers in Coastal Karnataka, will benefit from improved connectivity.
• Launch is contingent on the near-complete electrification of the challenging 55 km Sakaleshpura-Subrahmanya Road ghat section.
• Vande Bharat offers environmental benefits (electric traction), smoother rides, enhanced safety, and better onboard amenities, part of a Rs 50,000 crore railway upgrade in Karnataka.

Why It Matters: Vande Bharat will revolutionize Bengaluru-Mangaluru travel, halving journey time and boosting regional connectivity.