Hubballi-Varanasi train to run 3 days a week, Railway Minister assures
Synopsis
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured Union Minister Pralhad Joshi that the Hubballi-Varanasi train will be extended to three days a week — the first ministerial-level commitment on a route that serves lakhs of North Karnataka pilgrims travelling to Kashi during Shravan. A station modernisation push for Hubballi is also on the table.
Key Takeaways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured that the Hubballi-Varanasi train service (Train Nos.
07323/24 ) will be extended to three days a week .
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met Vaishnaw in New Delhi on 12 August to request the frequency increase and station upgrades.
The route is particularly significant during the Shravan month , when pilgrim traffic to Kashi (Varanasi) peaks.
Vaishnaw also agreed to consider the modernisation of Hubballi railway station , including parking, a multiplex, restaurants, and commercial outlets.
No specific implementation timeline has been announced; the revised schedule will be notified after operational logistics are confirmed.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured that the Hubballi-Varanasi train service (Train Nos. 07323/24) will soon be extended to three days a week, up from its current frequency, offering improved connectivity for pilgrims and passengers from North Karnataka travelling to Varanasi. The assurance came after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Wednesday, 12 August, and formally requested the frequency increase.
What Joshi Sought
During the meeting, Joshi underlined the significance of the route during the auspicious Shravan month, when devotee traffic between Karnataka and Kashi (Varanasi) rises sharply. He argued that a higher frequency would benefit not only pilgrims but also tourists, job-seekers, and business travellers moving between the two regions.
Joshi also pressed for the modernisation and upgradation of Hubballi railway station, requesting a range of passenger amenities including parking facilities, a shopping mall, a multiplex, restaurants, and commercial outlets.
Railway Minister's Response
Vaishnaw responded positively to both requests. He confirmed that the three-days-a-week extension of the Hubballi-Varanasi service would be implemented soon, and agreed to consider the station modernisation proposal in the coming days. No specific timeline was provided for the infrastructure upgrades.
Broader Context
The Hubballi-Varanasi corridor serves as a critical link between the Lingayat-majority belt of North Karnataka and one of Hinduism's holiest cities. Demand for better rail connectivity on this route has been raised repeatedly by local representatives over the past several years. This is the first ministerial-level assurance of a frequency increase.
Notably, Pralhad Joshi currently holds the portfolios of Food and Consumer Affairs as well as the additional charge of the Education Ministry — a responsibility he took on following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan amid nationwide protests over examination paper leaks. Joshi acknowledged the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vaishnaw, and Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna in addressing the connectivity demands of Karnataka passengers.
What Comes Next
The Railways is expected to notify the revised schedule for Train Nos. 07323/24 once operational logistics are confirmed. Passengers and pilgrims from districts such as Dharwad, Gadag, and Belagavi stand to benefit most from the enhanced frequency, particularly ahead of and during the Shravan season.
Point of View
And North Karnataka is a BJP stronghold where connectivity grievances carry electoral weight. But an assurance is not a notification: the Railways has a documented pattern of promising frequency upgrades that take months to operationalise. The real measure will be when the revised timetable for Train Nos. 07323/24 appears on the official schedule. The Hubballi station modernisation ask — a mall, multiplex, and commercial outlets — reads more like an urban redevelopment pitch than a passenger amenity plan, and deserves scrutiny on land-use and displacement grounds before it advances.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which train is being extended to three days a week on the Hubballi-Varanasi route?
Train Nos. 07323/24, operating between Hubballi and Varanasi, is the service that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured will be extended to three days a week. The enhancement is expected to be implemented soon, though an exact date has not been announced.
Why is the Hubballi-Varanasi train frequency being increased?
The frequency increase was sought to benefit pilgrims from North Karnataka travelling to Varanasi and Kashi during the Shravan month, as well as tourists, business travellers, and job-seekers using the route. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi made the formal request during a meeting with the Railway Minister on 12 August.
What upgrades are planned for Hubballi railway station?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has requested modernisation of Hubballi railway station to include parking facilities, a shopping mall, a multiplex, restaurants, and commercial outlets. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw agreed to consider the proposal, though no timeline has been specified.
Who will benefit most from the increased train frequency?
Pilgrims from North Karnataka districts such as Dharwad, Gadag, and Belagavi travelling to Kashi (Varanasi) — especially during the Shravan season — stand to benefit most, along with tourists and passengers travelling for employment and business.
When will the three-days-a-week schedule take effect?
No specific date has been announced. The Railways is expected to notify the revised schedule for Train Nos. 07323/24 once operational logistics are finalised. Railway Minister Vaishnaw has described the extension as coming 'soon'.
