Bengaluru

Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Wednesday said he has urged the Centre to establish a coach depot in Vijayapura to strengthen rail connectivity.

He said letters had been sent to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, with whom he had discussed the need to establish a coach depot in Vijayapura and develop an additional entrance and exit gate at the city's railway station.

Patil, who is also the Vijayapura district in-charge minister, said the goods shed, which was earlier located within the Vijayapura railway station premises, has been shifted to Aliyabad. As a result, adequate land is available for establishing a coach depot.

Once established, the depot can be developed into a coach maintenance hub, enabling more efficient train operations and improving rail connectivity for Vijayapura and other parts of North Karnataka, the minister said in a statement issued by his office.

Vijayapura is a historic city and a major tourist destination that attracts lakhs of visitors throughout the year.

Passenger footfall increases significantly during weekends, festivals and public holidays. Therefore, an additional entrance and exit gate is required at the Vijayapura railway station to improve passenger convenience, the state infrastructure development minister said in his letter.

Patil said these issues were discussed with Somanna during a Railway Department programme held on Monday and that the union minister responded positively.

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He expressed confidence that, if implemented, the proposals would also facilitate the maintenance and operation of the Bengaluru–Vijayapura Vande Bharat Express, which is expected to begin service in the next few months.