Industrialists raise demand for Mangaluru-Bengaluru superfast train connectivity

Mangaluru: As the ‘Invest Karnataka-2022′ Global Investors’ meet is being held, the demand for superfast trains between Bengaluru and the coastal city of Mangaluru has been raised again.

With the project for a tunnel cutting across the Western Ghats remaining a distant dream, business leaders from Mangaluru are seeking the introduction of the Vande Bharat Super Express train or the like for connectivity between the cities to cut down the travel time.

Chairman of Dakshina Kannada chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Jeevan Saldanha said that he had received a letter in 2021, from ‘Metro Man’ Dr. E Sreedharan himself about the possibility of a direct route via Shravanabelgola in reducing the commute time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru to just 4 hours – pending feasibility studies.

Industrialists maintain that the project can boost the economic potential of the coastal region and the hinterland.  With Mangaluru port being the gateway to Karnataka, and industrial areas of Baikampady and Yeyyadi being in the vicinity, faster rail connectivity between the cities will boost economic opportunities, they opined.

Moreover, the fast rail connectivity will also give a fillip to the tourism industry, they added.

Jeevan Saldanha said the appeal for starting superfast trains has been forwarded to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai through the Karnataka Chairman of CII. The issue will be highlighted during the Global Investors’ Meet also, he said, and added that the face of Mangaluru will see a drastic change for the better when the project is realized.