Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his visit to Bengaluru to inspect the redevelopment of the Bengaluru Cantonment railway station, disclosed plans to launch the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, which will connect Bengaluru, Mysore, and Tumkur, as reported by *The Indian Express*. He stated that this rapid rail service would be “perfect” for linking Bengaluru and Mysore, which are 135 km apart, as well as Bengaluru and Tumkur, located 70 km from each other. He noted that operating rapid rail services between cities up to 200 km apart is an ideal option for ensuring frequent and efficient transportation.

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is designed as a short-distance intercity rail service to connect major cities within a range of 100 to 250 kilometers. Currently, the semi-high-speed rail network operates between Ghaziabad, Meerut, Ahmedabad, and Bhuj. Vaishnaw remarked that Bengaluru serves as a magnet, attracting people from Mysore and Tumkur, and he highlighted the success of the rapid rail concept implemented between Delhi and Meerut, as well as Ahmedabad and Bhuj.

He further explained that the initial plan involves operating the first few trains between these cities for about a year before starting large-scale production to expand services to additional cities. Vaishnaw cited the Delhi-Meerut RRTS, which covers approximately 82 km in about 60 minutes, with trains reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. This high-speed connectivity considerably reduces travel time compared to conventional trains, and the system is designed to operate frequently, with trains running every 15 minutes on weekdays.