Mangaluru: The Vande Bharat Express train service between Mangalore and Goa is set to commence in October, according to a commitment made by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. This announcement came after MP Nalin Kumar Kateel met with the minister in New Delhi last Friday to formally request the service.

During their meeting, Vaishnav firmly declined the proposal to extend the Bangalore-Kannur train to Cochin, a request from Keralites. Instead, he agreed to introduce a daily passenger train route between Subrahmanya Road and Mangalore in the mornings, with a return service in the evenings.

Furthermore, Vaishnav suggested taking action to include a portion of the Dakshina Kannada district in the Palakkadu section of Southern Railway, aiming to mitigate Kerala's influence over the Railway Department in the region. He also pledged to streamline train schedules between the divisions of Southern Railway and Konkan Railway to prevent unnecessary delays.

Expressing his gratitude for the minister's positive response, Kateel emphasized that the upcoming Vande Bharat Express service would greatly benefit the residents of both Mangalore and Goa. This new service is expected to halve the travel time between the two cities, offering passengers a more comfortable and convenient travel experience.