Mangaluru: The inaugural run of the first Vande Bharat Express train along the Karnataka coast, connecting Mangaluru Central to Madgaon, is expected to take place by the end of December, as indicated by Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to officiate the ceremony, coinciding with the inauguration of two additional platforms at Mangaluru Central railway station. Additionally, two weekly trains from Mangaluru Central to Bhavnagar and Rameswaram, sanctioned last year by the Railway Ministry, are also slated to commence on the same occasion.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel shared these details after chairing a review meeting of Railway works, emphasizing the likelihood of simultaneous inaugurations. 

Furthermore, he revealed that the Palakkad division of Southern Railway is working towards extending services such as Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction, Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction, and Mumbai CSMT-Mangaluru Junction Express to Mangaluru Central, pending finalization of timetables and modalities by the division.

In a related development, Konkan Railway Corporation's Senior Regional Traffic Manager Vinay Kumar announced plans to develop Surathkal Railway Station in phases. 

The extension of train services like CST Mumbai-Mangaluru train (12133/34), Gomteshwara express (16575/76), and Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction (07377/78) to Mangaluru Central, following the completion of two new platforms.