Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was in Bengaluru to inspect the redevelopment of the Bengaluru Cantonment railway station, has revealed plans to launch Namo Bharta Rapid Rail to link Bengaluru, Mysore and Tumkur, The Indian Express reported.
He said that the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail will be “perfect” for connecting Bengaluru and Mysore, which sit 135 kilometres apart, and Bengaluru and Tumkur, which are at a distance of 70 kilometres. “Operating rapid rail between pairs of cities that are up to 200 km apart is an ideal option for frequent and efficient service,” he added.
The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is a short-distance intercity rail service designed to connect major cities within a range of 100 to 250 kilometers. Currently, the semi-high-speed rail network operates between Ghaziabad, Meerut, Ahmedabad, and Bhuj.
‘Bengaluru is a magnet’
Vaishnaw said that Bengaluru is like a magnet which has been attracting people from places like Mysore and Tumkur. He added that the rapid rail concept between Delhi and Meerut, and Ahmedabad and Bhuj has been successful.
“The plan is that after running the first few trains for about a year between these cities, we will soon start large-scale production of these trains to expand the services in other cities,” Vaishnaw said.
Delhi-Meerut RRTS
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS covers a distance of approximately 82 km in around 60 minutes, with trains reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. This high-speed connectivity significantly reduces travel time between the two cities compared to conventional trains. The system is designed for frequent service, with trains running every 15 minutes on weekdays.
