In the Union Budget 2026-27, the centre announced two bullet train projects for Karnataka: Bangalore-Hyderabad and Bangalore-Chennai. The travel time on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad bullet train corridor is expected to be reduced to just two hours, while the Bengaluru-Chennai bullet train corridor could cut journey time to just 73 minutes.

Sharing a post on X on February 7, Patil said that he had submitted a personal request to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking a high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru and Mumbai. ?Bengaluru is the technology capital of the country, and Mumbai is the economic capital. It is imperative to connect these two cities with the best connectivity system.

The request was made to extend the high-speed rail corridor already announced between Mumbai and Pune up to Bengaluru, and the Railway Minister responded positively to this as well,? he said.

In a letter to Vaishnaw on February 3, the Karnataka minister said that in both (the Bengaluru–Hyderabad and Bengaluru–Chennai) bullet train corridors, the stretch falling within Karnataka is limited to around 100 km. He added that, as a result, the overall benefit for the people of Karnataka from these projects would be relatively limited.

?In order to ensure wider and more meaningful benefits to the people of our State, I humbly request your kind consideration for a High-Speed Rail Corridor between Bengaluru, the IT capital of India, and Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country. If this corridor is aligned through the central and northern regions of Karnataka, it would provide rapid connectivity to several important but presently under-connected regions of the State.

Further, the proposed corridor would extend substantially within Maharashtra as well, thereby benefiting the people of both Karnataka and Maharashtra socially and economically. In this context, as a High-Speed Rail Project has already been announced between Pune and Mumbai, connecting the same to Bengaluru would greatly enhance its utility and strategic importance. In view of the above, I respectfully request that the feasibility of a Bengaluru–Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor be considered,? Patil wrote.

ಕೇಂದ್ರ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ ವೈಷ್ಣವ್ ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಯೋಜನೆಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಚರ್ಚೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು-ಮುಂಬೈ ಹೈಸ್ಪೀಡ್ ರೈಲು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು- ವಿಜಯಪುರ ವಂದೇ ಭಾರತ್ ರೈಲು ಮತ್ತು ದಿನವಹಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ರೈಲಿಗೆ ಕೋರಿಕೆ

ರಾಜ್ಯ ರಾಜಧಾನಿಯಿಂದ ವಿಜಯಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ವಂದೇ ಭಾರತ್ ಸ್ಲೀಪರ್ ಎಕ್ಸ್‌ಪ್ರೆಸ್ ರೈಲು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು-ಮುಂಬೈ ನಡುವೆ… pic.twitter.com/0ZaAp7ks0n

— M B Patil (@MBPatil) February 7, 2026

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Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. … Read More

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