New Belagavi–Charlapalli, B’luru–Mumbai trains flagged off

Belagavi: Former chief minister and Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar on Sunday flagged off a new weekly train service connecting Belagavi and Charlapalli, along with the inaugural run of the SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Mumbai Express. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually flagged off the Bengaluru–Mumbai train, marking a key step in boosting connectivity between Karnataka and Maharashtra.Speaking on the occasion, Shettar referred to the proposed Belagavi–Kittur–Dharwad railway line project and said land acquisition issues must be resolved. He urged the state govt to expedite the process in Dharwad district.Railway officials said Train No. 17075 Charlapalli–Belagavi Weekly Express will commence service from Charlapalli on May 16, 2026, departing every Saturday at 4pm and reaching Belagavi at 10.30am on Sunday. In the return direction, Train No. 17076 Belagavi–Charlapalli Weekly Express will start from May 17, departing every Sunday at 1pm and reaching Charlapalli at 8.45am on Monday.Deputy mayor Hanumant Kongali, physician Dr Ravi Patil, ZRUCC member Chidanand Demashetti, additional divisional railway manager Prem Chandra and senior railway officials were present.Earlier, virtually flagging off the service, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Vande Bharat Sleeper between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to start soon. He said Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains.He added that with a long-term vision to connect Mumbai, Bengaluru and other major cities, the network is expected to expand to 7,000 km.According to the ministry of railways, a new biweekly express between Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru (SMVT) and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Mumbai has been introduced to meet rising travel demand between Karnataka and Maharashtra.Regular services of Train No. 16553/16554 SMVT Bengaluru–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–SMVT Bengaluru Biweekly Express will begin from SMVT Bengaluru from May 23 and from LTT from May 24.Train No. 16553 will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 8.35pm every Saturday and Tuesday, reaching LTT at 8.40pm on Sunday and Wednesday. In the return direction, Train No. 16554 will depart LTT at 11.15pm every Sunday and Wednesday and arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 10.30pm on Monday and Thursday.The train will halt at Davangere, SSS Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Miraj Junction, Sangli, Karad, Satara, Lonand, Pune, Lonavala, Karjat, Kalyan and Thane in both directions.It will comprise one AC 2-tier, four AC 3-tier, six sleeper class, four general second class coaches, one luggage-cum-brake van with Divyangjan-friendly compartment and one generator-cum-brake van, totalling 17 LHB coaches.The new service is expected to benefit passengers travelling for business, education, tourism and jobs between Bengaluru, north Karnataka and the Mumbai region.