The Hubballi-Dharwad Vande Bharat, the second of its kind under the South Western Railway (SWR), completed one successful year of its running amidst praise for its efficiency and service. Connecting Bengaluru and Dharwad, this superfast train garnered significant patronage from passengers across both South and North Karnataka.
Since its launch, the Vande Bharat has proved to be a boon for travelers, consistently filling about 85% of its seats on an average. Specifically, the Bengaluru-Dharwad route boasts an average occupancy of 86%, while the return journey sees 83% of seats filled, reflecting its popularity among commuters.
Financially, the Vande Bharat has been a success story, contributing a substantial revenue of Rs 28 crore in its inaugural year. The response has been overwhelming, remarked SWR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Manjunath Kanamadi, highlighting the train’s profitability, particularly on weekends when demand exceeds capacity.
Despite its achievements, demands for enhancements persist. Residents of Hubballi have voiced a strong desire for revised timings, advocating for morning departures from Dharwad and afternoon departures from Bengaluru to better suit their schedules. Some have even proposed the introduction of additional services to cater to peak demand periods.
Moreover, there is a growing clamour for the extension of the Vande Bharat service up to Belagavi. While discussions are ongoing, logistical challenges regarding platform availability at Belagavi station for the return journey to Bengaluru have tempered immediate expansion plans. Railway authorities are contemplating the introduction of a separate train to Belagavi to address these concerns.
As the Hubballi-Dharwad Vande Bharat marks its milestone, stakeholders eagerly await further developments that could potentially enhance connectivity and convenience across Karnataka’s northern corridor.
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