Belagavi is seeing a wave of improved connectivity with the launch of the Vande Bharat Express to Bengaluru and regular flights to six destinations from the city’s airport. On paper, this is a big leap forward for both business and leisure travel. But for many residents, there’s a glaring gap in the journey – getting to the railway station or airport itself, especially during odd hours.
Take the Vande Bharat Express to Bengaluru, for instance. The train departs at 5:20 a.m., which means passengers need to be at the station by around 5:00 a.m. For most, that translates to leaving home by 4:30 a.m. or earlier. But what public transport is available at that hour? Without a friend or family member willing to drop them, passengers face uncertainty – will there even be an auto available? And if there is, what would it cost? If a one-kilometre auto ride during the day is already around ₹60, early-morning fares could be far higher, and often, bargaining is the only option.
The same problem extends to Belagavi’s Sambra airport. While flights are often associated with premium travel, the argument that “if you can pay ₹5,000 for a ticket, you can afford a ₹600 taxi” doesn’t hold for everyone. For those who wish to travel affordably – students, small business owners, the additional ₹500–₹600 taxi fare from the city to the airport is a significant burden. More importantly, there’s simply no reliable public transport to the airport at present, making the journey both costly and inconvenient.
More importantly, there’s simply no reliable public transport to the airport at present, making the journey both costly and inconvenient. And with no metered taxis or app-based taxi services operating in Belagavi, options are further limited.
Ravi, a Belagavi-based businessman, recently faced this dilemma. “I had a business trip to Bengaluru and wanted to take a flight, but without anyone to drop me, the cost of just reaching the airport was discouraging. It’s not about affording the flight ticket; it’s about accessibility,” he said.
Another regular traveller to Bengaluru summed it up well: “This Vande Bharat is convenient, but who will drop me at 5 a.m. to the station is the question.”
Currently, Belagavi airport connects to six destinations, but the lack of an affordable, dependable connection from the city to the airport limits its usage. For both the Vande Bharat and the flights to truly benefit the public, planners and local authorities need to address this missing link.
Possible solutions could include introducing early-morning city buses on key routes, a fixed-fare airport shuttle service, or ride-share tie-ups that ensure availability during odd hours. Until then, while the city’s trains and flights may be ready to take off, passengers are still left wondering how to begin their journey.
Pl fix the timing of vande Bharat
Very true .For example one coming from Ganeshpur ..no rickshaws available at that time .Not possible to board the train so early .
Give licence to Ola/Uber/Namma Yatri or Rapido. Allow them to ply on Belagavi roads 24 x 7. The probelm of last mile connectivity gets resolved like an ice block on hot plate. Anyone can book their services online anytime, pay as per meter/app charges and happily reach either the station or airport or their homes on return journey. As simple as that. All it needs is support and guts from concerned departments. This could be one of the many possible solutions.
It is very true…in Belagavi, Bus connectivity is not that great.Ideal Way to connect to rial station is Start bus..from far away places like
1.Ramteerth Nagar
2.sahyadri Nagar
3.Balekundri
Should leave by 4.30 am reach station by 5.0 am
Simultaneously from rail station these buses should start from 11.0 pm to drop
Already Belagavi lost many trains due to less passenger load (Hyderabad train, Miraj passenger)
Hope this premium train will not get cancelled
One possible solution:
Even though Vande Bharat is conceptualized as a day train, it can be tried as below, for the convenience and utilisation of Belagavi passengers.
Vande Bharat train from Belagavi may start as a night travel sitting premium train leaving Belagavi at 10 pm and reaching Bengaluru around 6 am. Return journey from Bengaluru may start around 9 am and reaching Belagavi around 5.30 pm. This will surely increase occupancy of train and convenience of passengers of Belagavi. There is surely a need for one more night train from Belagavi.
Excellent suggestion
Vande Bharat trains are not suitable for night travel. How many of us are comfortable sitting all night from Belagavi to B’lore in the night?
Though, I agree with your other suggestion of train starting B’lore at 9 AM to reach Belagavi in the evening
that’s a good suggestion .Instead of wasting full day .Half night half day is ok
Reaching the Belagavi airport is not a big issue. But the parking mafia and the goons who collect the parking fees according to their whims and fancies is the biggest problem at present. Daylight robbery by the parking contractor!
Govt should build airports and railway stations at everybody’s houses..
Both rly stn and airport are poles apart.. People living in North belagavi will find it totally rly stn inaccessible and South people to the airport.. Shuttles had started between railway stn and airport but stopped due to unknown reasons
The transport department should ensure that the city’s auto driver’s should charge as per meter. Local MLA’s and Belgaum MP should hold meeting with the Deputy commissioner to ensure that Autos should run on meter.
The real benefits of the much awaited Vande Bharat between Belagavi and Bengaluru will only come by when the Belagavi-Kittur-Dharwad Railway Line comes into existence.
That will result in improved locomotive speed, shorter distance and hence more convenient start timings and travel time.
Until then, we need to keep pushing our Ministers.
No Uber
That’s why auto driver demand tooooo much
Pune ,I pay home to swargate 45rs for auto and same distance they ask 200 rs
Pune to belgam we pay luxery 750 rs and auto demand 200
Respected Sir
We sincerely appreciate the arrangements made by South Western Railway (SWR) in introducing and operating the Vande Bharat Express services. However, we wish to bring to your kind attention that passengers from Belagavi are finding it difficult to fully utilize the existing service due to the early departure time from Belagavi. Many commuters face challenges in reaching the station well in advance of the current schedule.
In view of this, we humbly request the following adjustments for the convenience of passengers from Belagavi, Hubballi, and Dharwad:
1. Extension of the existing Dharwad Vande Bharat service to Belagavi, with a proposed departure from Belagavi at 2:00 p.m. and arrival in Bengaluru at 10:00 p.m.
2. Revision of the current Belagavi Vande Bharat timings as follows:
o Depart from Belagavi at 7:00 a.m. instead of 5:20 a.m.
o Depart from Bengaluru at 3:45 p.m. instead of 2.20 and reach Belagavi by 11:15 p.m.
These revised timings will significantly benefit passengers of Belagavi district by allowing them to board a convenient afternoon train, while also enabling residents of Hubballi and Dharwad to take full advantage of the service.
We firmly believe that these adjustments will enhance passenger convenience, improve ridership, and further strengthen the utility of the Vande Bharat service in our region.
We look forward to your kind and favorable consideration of this request.
Very good new that we have trains and flight from BELAGAVI to other destinations, but travelling from home to station and airport is a worry, on that roads adds disappointment as tadka for it, some auto and taxi personel charges more fare because of roads problem. Please request to our road transport minister look into this matters too… Small issue but impacts a lots on co travellers..