**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of Railway's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1833, to be answered on December 10, 2025, regarding passenger train connectivity to Ballari Junction. It addresses the long-pending demand for improved rail connectivity, the status of requests for specific train routes, and the possibility of introducing new express or Vande Bharat trains on the Hospet-Ballari-Bengaluru route. The document outlines the factors considered for introducing new trains and summarizes current train services to/from Ballari.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Introduction of New Trains:**
* The introduction of new trains, including Vande Bharat, depends on:
* Capacity of the section
* Availability of path
* Availability of required rolling stock
* Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
* Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets
* **Current Train Services:**
* Ballari station is served by 30 Mail/Express and 12 Passenger train services.
* These services provide connectivity to Chennai (1 pair), Hosapete (16 pairs), Mumbai (3 pairs), Gadag (14 pairs), and Solapur (2 pairs).
* The Hosapete – Ballari – Bengaluru sector is served by 7 pairs of train services.
* **Handling of Proposals/Requests:**
* The Ministry receives proposals for introducing/extending trains from various sources.
* A centralized compendium of these requests is not maintained.
* Requests are examined, and action is taken as found feasible and justified as part of an ongoing process.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public/Rail Passengers**
* **Impact:** Addresses concerns and requests for improved passenger rail connectivity to and from Ballari Junction.
* **Action Required:** None specified.
**Stakeholder: Railway Authorities (Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional Office)**
* **Impact:** Provides guidelines for assessing the feasibility of introducing new train services.
* **Action Required:** To continue evaluating proposals for new train services based on established criteria and ongoing processes.
**Stakeholder: Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users**
* **Impact:** Acknowledges the receipt of proposals/suggestions/representations from them
* **Action Required:** To continue sending proposals,suggestions, representations on rail travel matters.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary ministry addressed in the question and responsible for the subject matter of rail connectivity.
Ballari Junction: The central location around which the passenger train connectivity improvements are being discussed.
Vande Bharat: A type of express train, the introduction of which is being considered for the Hospet–Ballari–Bengaluru route.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1833
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
PASSENGER TRAIN CONNECTING BALLARI JUNCTION
1833. SHRI E TUKARAM:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the long pending demand for
improving passenger train connectivity to Ballari Junction and if so, the
details of the existing plans/proposals to strengthen rail connectivity for the
region;
(b) the details of the requests and the action taken on demands for daily
trains to Chennai-Ballari-Hospet-Mumbai and extension of the Mumbai–Gadag
and Solapur–Gadag trains upto Ballari/Hospet; and
(c) whether the Government plans to start new express or Vande Bharat
trains on the Hospet–Ballari–Bengaluru route and if so, the details thereof
and the details of the roadmap to improve rail connectivity for Ballari district
which is a mining hub and contributes major freight revenue to Indian
Railways and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) Introduction of new trains including Vande Bharat train services on
any route/section depends on various factors which include:
• Capacity of that section
• Availability of path
• Availability of required rolling stock
• Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
• Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets
---2/--2-
Accordingly, Ballari station is presently being served by 30
Mail/Express and 12 Passenger train services. These services are providing
connectivity inter alia to cities like Chennai (by 1 pair), Hosapete (by 16
pairs), Mumbai (by 3 pairs), Gadag (by 14 pairs) and Solapur (by 2 pairs).
Similarly, Hosapete – Ballari – Bengaluru sector is served by 7 pairs of
train services.
Proposals/ requests/ suggestions/ representations, both formal and
informal inter alia for introduction/extension of trains are received from
Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc.
at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional Office
etc. As receipt of such proposals/ requests/ suggestions is a continuous and
dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not
maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and
justified is taken from time to time, which is an ongoing process.
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