Bengaluru To Kalaburagi: Karnataka Minister Urges Indian Railway Minister To Change Vande Bharat Train Timings

Karnataka Minister, KJ George, has quested Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to makes changes in the Vande Bharat Express train schedules between Bengaluru and Kalaburagi. The aim is to make travel more convenient for passengers and increase the service's usefulness.

George's letter, dated December 7, was shared with the media on Monday. He pointed out that train number 22232 leaves Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru at 2:40 pm. It arrives at Mantralayam Road Station by 8:20 pm and finally reaches Kalaburagi Railway Station at 11:30 pm.

Challenges for Devotees

The minister highlighted issues faced by devotees visiting Mantralayam. "I have come to know that it is inconvenient for travellers who want to visit Mantralayam by this train because Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy's darshan timings are from 6 am to 8.30 pm every day," he stated. This timing mismatch makes it difficult for visitors to attend the darshan.

Devotees reach Mantralayam Road Station at 8:20 pm, but it takes another 40-50 minutes to get to Mantralayam itself. By then, the darshan is over for the day, as noted by George. This timing issue affects those travelling for religious purposes.

Proposed Schedule Adjustments

The return journey also poses challenges. The train departs Kalaburagi at 5:15 am and reaches Mantralayam Road Station at 7:10 am before arriving in Bengaluru at 2:00 pm. "The darshan starts at 6 am, so devotees who want to travel by train are unable to reach Mantralayam Road Railway Station by 7.10 am to board the Vande Bharat train," explained George.

To address these issues, George suggested new timings. He proposed that if the train left SMV Terminal around 7 or 8 am instead of its current schedule, it would be more convenient for devotees. Similarly, departing from Kalaburagi around 8:30 or 9 am would better serve passengers' needs.

Benefits of Revised Timings

The minister believes these changes could encourage more devotees to use trains instead of personal vehicles when visiting Mantralayam for Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy's darshan. This shift could increase revenue for the railway department and help reduce traffic congestion in the area.

By making these adjustments, both commuters and religious visitors could benefit significantly from improved accessibility and convenience while travelling on this route.