Overview
- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat proposal has been considered and is set to start by mid-November.
- The service will connect Kochi and Bengaluru via Thrissur and Palakkad to strengthen direct rail connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka.
- BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vaishnaw, noting he raised the request in an online meeting a month ago.
- Officials and supporters cite heavy festive-season traffic and costly alternatives as key reasons for adding capacity on the corridor.
- Congress MP Hibi Eden welcomed the decision, which aligns with Indian Railways’ recent Vande Bharat expansion that included a Bengaluru–Belagavi service in August.