In a significant move to enhance connectivity, the Railway Board has approved a major re-routing of the popular Kalaburagi–Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express. The changes, which include an additional important stoppage and revised timings, will come into effect from the first day of the new year.
New Route and Key Stoppage Added
The South Western Railway (SWR) zone, which maintains and operates this semi-high-speed train, will now run train numbers 22231 and 22232 via Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam. This re-routing introduces a scheduled halt at this spiritually significant destination. The new stoppage becomes effective from January 1, 2026, for services starting from Kalaburagi and from January 2, 2026, for journeys originating from SMVT Bengaluru.
This 47th Vande Bharat Express in the Indian Railways fleet was originally flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, 2024. It operates daily except for Fridays on the Kalaburagi to Bengaluru direction and except Thursdays on the return journey.
Revised Schedule and Timings
Passengers must take note of the updated departure and arrival times. The train number 22231 from Kalaburagi to SMVT Bengaluru will now depart at 06:10 hours, a delay of 55 minutes from its previous 05:15 hours schedule.
Its revised route timings are as follows: Yadgir (06:48/06:50), Raichur (07:38/07:40), Manthralayam Road (07:58/08:00), Guntakal (09:00/09:05), Anantapur (10:03/10:05), the new halt at Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam (11:00/11:02), Yelahanka Junction (12:28/12:30), with a final arrival at SMVT Bengaluru at 14:10 hours.
On the return leg, train number 22232 will continue to depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 14:40 hours. It will reach Yelahanka at 15:05/15:07, followed by the new stop at Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam at 16:23/16:25. Subsequent arrivals are Anantapur (17:33/17:35), Guntakal (18:37/18:42), Manthralayam Road (19:48/19:50), Raichur (20:18/20:20), Yadgir (21:03/21:05), with a final arrival at Kalaburagi at 22:45 hours, which is 45 minutes earlier than the old schedule of 23:30 hours.
Travel Details and Fare Structure
The train covers the approximately 550-kilometer distance between Kalaburagi and Bengaluru in 8 hours and 45 minutes. The fare for this journey remains unchanged with the revision. A ticket for the Air-Conditioned Chair Car is priced at Rs 1,475, while travel in the more premium Executive Chair Car costs Rs 2,710.
This route enhancement by Indian Railways is expected to provide better travel options for devotees and tourists heading to Prasanthi Nilayam while maintaining the high-speed connectivity benefits of the Vande Bharat service for other passengers along the corridor.
