India, Aug. 6 -- In a major step toward improving rail connectivity between North Karnataka and the state capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the extended Belagavi-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express on Sunday, August 10. The launch of the Vande Bharat Express will coincide with the inauguration of the much-awaited Yellow Line metro in Bengaluru the same day.

The extended semi-high-speed train is set to depart from Belagavi at 5:20 a.m., arriving in Bengaluru by 1:50 p.m. On the return leg, it will leave Bengaluru at 2:20 p.m. and reach Belagavi by 10:40 p.m. While a final timetable is awaited, officials expect the train to operate six days a week.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, along with Members of Parliament Jagadish Shetta...