Despite repeated demands and high-profile interventions, the South Western Railway (SWR) has still not made any progress toward extending the Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat service to Belagavi.
In recent months, Belagavi’s Member of Parliament Rajyasabha (MP) Iranna Kadadi and MP Belagavi Jagadish Shettar have taken up the issue with the Ministry of Railways. Their meetings with the Railway Minister raised hopes, but so far, it seems these efforts have not yielded any concrete action. This has left the public wondering whether the authorities are genuinely unable to address the demands or if there are other forces at play.
Are the Voices Falling on Deaf Ears?
Local leaders and MPs have been pushing for the extension of the Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat to Belagavi, a city that has long awaited better rail connectivity. The promise of faster and more efficient travel via Vande Bharat seemed like a fitting solution. With travel times approved and feasible, one would expect the extension to be a simple decision. Yet, SWR’s inaction suggests that the railway authorities may not be prioritizing Belagavi, despite persistent lobbying by political leaders.
MP Iranna Kadadi and Jagadish Shettar’s attempts to bring the issue to the Railway Minister’s attention were met with initial optimism. The Railway Ministry’s reluctance to act, however, has frustrated both local politicians and citizens alike. Many are questioning if the voices of North Karnataka leaders are being ignored. While the political push for this project continues, it has yet to produce tangible results. The silence from SWR raises concerns about whether the demands of Belagavi are truly being heard, or whether the Ministry is deliberately stalling the extension.
Some speculate that SWR’s silence on the matter might be due to internal pressure or policy constraints, forcing it to turn a deaf ear to Belagavi’s needs. The route’s feasibility and demand are undeniable, but if the railway administration has been “forced to deaf its ears,” it begs the question of who or what is driving this inaction.
Extending the Vande Bharat service would not only boost local tourism and economy but also significantly reduce travel times for professionals, students, and business travelers.
As voices grow louder, and political leaders continue to push for change, the ball remains in the court of the railways. Whether the authorities will act or continue to remain unresponsive is a question that remains to be answered.
The people of Belagavi are calling not only for high-speed options like Vande Bharat but for the restoration and improvement of the overall railway network that connects them to the rest of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa.
If the railways are truly forced to ignore these demands, it will only deepen the disconnect between the region and the rest of the rail network, further frustrating public sentiment. Only time will tell if SWR and the Ministry of Railways will break their silence and take action.
Seems ,Request and clearance from Pralad Joshi and people of Dharwad n Hubli is required, Railways are under pressure from them.
Since seats get occupied from Belagavi they fear they will not get seats.Also the Dharwad kittur Belagavi track delay is an issue
There is no other logical reason. When the train can go from Pune to Hubli via Belgaum Why not extend Bangalore to Dharwad upto Belgaum. Most of the days Dharwad Bangalore is operating at 50% or less if you see reservations on IRCTC
Dharwad Bangalore is always available except Sundays.
Belgaum ready for grow in all direction so respected Minister kindly consider and Not only extend Banglore Dharwad Vanderbhart exp to Belgaum but also please consider more connectivity to Chennai and Kolkata which helps to n numbers of people’s who are facing more challenges travel to this region.