Based on a report published by Prajavani
It’s official—Belagavi is still stuck at the railway platform, patiently (and increasingly sarcastically) waiting for the Vande Bharat Express to finally extend service to our city. But after months—wait, years—of MP visits, promises, green signals, yellow lights, “feasibility studies” and more chai-samosa meetings, the train is still just a mirage beyond Dharwad.
According to a detailed article in Prajavani, even former Chief Minister and Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar admitted,
“Considering the schedule of the train that is operating now, it is difficult to adjust the time. So they are trying to start traffic from Belagavi at 5 in the morning. If it is final, the train will reach Bangalore at 12.30 pm, leave there at 1.30 pm and return to Belagavi at 9 pm.”
He further added that they even tried to extend the Bangalore–Dharwad service to Belagavi, but the timing doesn’t work out.
A railway official explained that:
“If the train leaves Dharwad at 1:15 pm and reaches Bangalore by 7:45 pm, extending it to Belagavi would need 5 more hours — 4 for the round trip and 1 for maintenance. The return journey would cross midnight in Bengaluru, making it hard for passengers to reach home.”
Okay. We get it. Timings are tricky. But here’s the punchline — only when it comes to Belagavi.
Meanwhile, trains are extended to far smaller places, with fewer passengers, in less time and with less drama. It almost seems like there’s an invisible hand pulling the brakes every time Belagavi gets close to something useful. 
So here’s a suggestion that makes actual sense: Forget Vande Bharat for now – give us Jan Shatabdi! A train for the real aam aadmi, one that more citizens can afford and benefit from. No plush AC seats, no flashy LED lights — just timely service, decent comfort, and the ability to reach Bengaluru without taking a bus, an auto, and three rebirths.
Belagavi is not asking for luxury — we’re asking for connectivity.
If Vande Bharat is too much to handle, fine. But at least let us get on the Jan Shatabdi before even that goes off track.
Until then, we’ll be here – at the platform – holding a garland… and a bucket of sarcasm.