Despite ongoing discussions, the extension of the Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat train service to Belagavi remains uncertain due to scheduling conflicts. Multiple meetings by railway authorities to resolve these issues have yet to yield a viable solution. There has been significant demand to extend the Vande Bharat train service from Dharwad to Belagavi since its inception.
A trial run to Belagavi was conducted, but the city has not benefited from the service due to complications such as platform availability for night trains in Bengaluru. The Vande Bharat train currently departs Bengaluru at 5:45 AM, arriving in Dharwad at 11:30 AM. It leaves Dharwad at 1:20 PM and reaches Bengaluru at 7:30 PM. Extending the service to Belagavi would add at least two hours to the journey, making the arrival time in Bengaluru around 10:30 PM. This raises concerns about the convenience for travelers and platform availability at Bengaluru station after 9 PM.
Jagadish Shettar, MP from Belagavi, stated, “There is no doubt that the Vande Bharat train will commence its service in Belagavi. A study is being conducted to determine whether the current Bengaluru-Dharwad train should be extended to Belagavi or if a separate service should be started. I have conveyed the demand of the people to the railway minister. Railway officials are concerned about a potential shortage of passengers if a separate Vande Bharat train runs between Bengaluru and Belagavi. We need to study the implications of this extension further.”