PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat, opens Bengaluru Airport's Terml-2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the newly built terminal 2 of the Bangaluru Airport. The new terminal has been developed at an investment of Rs 5,000 crore. The new design makes it look like a garden with lush greenery greeting the passengers. Passengers will have to walk through the garden and there will be trees. The terminal is spread over a total area of 2,55,645 square metre. In its first phase, it will have 22 contact gates, 15 bus gates, 95 check-in solutions and 17 security check lanes.  There will be nine customs hand baggage screenings. The gate lounge will have a seating capacity of 5,932.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express at Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Bengaluru. This is the fifth Vande Bharat Express in the country and the first such train in south India. "It will enhance connectivity between the industrial hub of Chennai and the Tech and Startup hub of Bengaluru and the famous tourist city of Mysuru," the PMO said. 

PM Modi also flagged Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan Train at the KSR railway station. Karnataka is the first state to take up this train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme in which the Karnataka government and the Railways ministry are working together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Varanasi (Kashi).

I would like to compliment Karnataka for being the first state to take up the Bharat Gaurav Kashi Yatra train. This train makes brings Kashi and Karnataka closer. Pilgrims and tourists will be able to visit Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj with ease. pic.twitter.com/7fBlEW091Q

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2022

"The pilgrims will be provided with comfortable stay and guidance for visiting Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj," the PMO said. Earlier, chief minister Bommai received PM Modi at HAL Airport, Bangaluru.

#PMModi reached BANGALURU. Karnataka CM Bommai received PM Modi at HAL Airport on Friday. pic.twitter.com/dBENwXuaWO

— newsinc24 (@newsinc24) November 11, 2022

Later in the day, PM Modi will unveil the 108-feet bronze statue of city's founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda called the ‘Statue of Prosperity’, and inaugurate Terminal 2 of the International Airport on the outskirts of Bengaluru, built at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore.

I share the pride of every Kannadiga that the 108ft tall Statue of Prosperity honouring Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda is being inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji today. It was my honour to lay the foundation stone for it on 27th June 2020. pic.twitter.com/LIZtAkr9Vm

— B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) November 11, 2022

PM Modi began his programme on Friday morning by paying floral tributes to the statues of saint-poets Kanaka Dasa and Maharshi Valmiki at state secretariat Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Today, on the auspicious occasion of Kanaka Dasa Jayanti, I paid homage to Sri Kanaka Dasa in Bengaluru. We will always be grateful to him for showing us the path of Bhakti, enriching Kannada literature and giving us a message of social unity. pic.twitter.com/dp51vT6Z9K

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2022

The Prime Minister will address a public meeting. PM Modi’s visit is politically significant for the ruling BJP in Karnataka, with about just about five months for the Assembly polls in the state, as the saffron party hopes to return to power.