New Delhi: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday to push for enhanced rail connectivity for the West Coast. The MP emphasized the urgent need for a Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru to Karwar via Mangaluru and Udupi.

High Demand for Connectivity: Poojary informed the Minister that over 600 buses currently operate daily between Bengaluru and the coast, highlighting a massive passenger demand. He noted that since the electrification of the Sakleshpur–Subrahmanya Road Ghat stretch is now complete, electric-loco hauled trains like the Vande Bharat can finally be introduced on this route.

Focus on Konkan Railway Expansion: Beyond the new train service, the MP advocated for the capacity expansion of the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL). He urged the Ministry to take up the doubling of the 734 km track between Roha (Maharashtra) and Thokur (Karnataka).

According to Poojary, the existing single line has become a bottleneck for regional development. He urged the government to conduct a survey and release funds promptly to meet the high aspirations of the residents of coastal Karnataka for modernized railway services.