Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary demands extension of Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary said the Union Minister directed officials concerned not to immediately cancel the services, and examine the feasibility of extending it to Mumbai.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary has urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to extend the Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai.

During a meeting with the Minister in New Delhi on March 16, the MP said there are rumours that the service might be cancelled because of low patronage. The services (Train Nos. 20646/645) introduced on December 30, 2023, have been running with less than 50% occupancy on an average.

Submitting an economic survey report of Mangaluru-Udupi regions to Mr. Vaishnaw, the MP impressed upon him the need for extending the service to Mumbai.

Mr. Poojary said the Minister directed officials concerned not to immediately cancel the services, and examine the feasibility of extending it to Mumbai.

Mr. Poojary said the Vande Bharat Express could be operated up to Mumbai, in its present form, till the Railways introduces the sleeper version of the service.

Mangaluru-based Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samithi and Kundapura Railway Prayanikara Samithi too had urged the Railways to extend the Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai.

The then Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had written to Mr. Vaishnaw in February 2024 demanding extension of Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai citing demand for a day-time train between the two cities. He had also requested a stop at Mookambika Road Byndoor and at Kumta, in addition to the stops at Udupi and Karwar.