Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna announced that the Vande Bharat train service is nearing commencement on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, fulfilling a long-standing demand. This development follows the electrification of the 55-kilometer ghat section between Sakaleshpura and Subrahmanya Road, enhancing railway infrastructure for cleaner and more efficient operations. The minister's statement was made in response to public and former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai's repeated calls for the service.