Pralhad Joshi wins tri-weekly Hubballi-Varanasi train promise
Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi and secured an assurance to upgrade the Hubballi-Varanasi Express (07323/24) to tri-weekly operations and redevelop Hubballi station with modern amenities including a mall, multiplex, and improved parking.
Key Takeaways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured that train 07323/24 (Hubballi-Varanasi Express) will be upgraded to tri-weekly operations.
Hubballi railway station is set for a high-tech redevelopment including a shopping mall, multiplex, restaurants, and modern parking.
The upgrade is expected to benefit Kashi pilgrims, tourists, and business travellers from North Karnataka.
The announcement was made during the holy month of Shravan , peak pilgrimage season for the Kashi-bound corridor.
The station redevelopment aligns with the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme launched in 2023 for modernising over 1,000 Indian stations.
A formal gazette notification and tender documents remain pending as the next milestone.
Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi walked out of a meeting with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Wednesday carrying a commitment that North Karnataka has waited for: train 07323/24, the Hubballi-Varanasi Express, will soon run three days a week instead of its current limited frequency — and Hubballi railway station is in line for a sweeping high-tech makeover.
Posting in Kannada on the auspicious occasion of Shravana Maasa (the holy month of Shravan), Joshi called it 'good news for Hubballi and all of North Karnataka.' The timing was deliberate: Shravan is peak pilgrimage season, when tens of thousands of devotees from Karnataka make the journey to Kashi (Varanasi) — one of Hinduism's holiest cities. A tri-weekly service directly addresses the seasonal surge in demand that currently forces many pilgrims onto circuitous or overcrowded routes.
What Vaishnaw promised Hubballi
Joshi told his followers that Vaishnaw responded 'very positively' to two specific requests. First, the frequency upgrade for train 07323/24 — a formal assurance, though a gazette notification is still awaited. Second, a nod to redevelop Hubballi station with facilities that read like a small city within a station: modern parking, a shopping mall, a multiplex, restaurants, and commercial outlets. Joshi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vaishnaw, and Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna on behalf of the people of North Karnataka.Amrit Bharat and the station upgrade angle
The redevelopment pitch fits squarely within the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, launched in 2023, under which Indian Railways identified over 1,000 stations for phased modernisation. Hubballi is already a critical rail junction for the region — upgrades here would amplify the station's role as a gateway between Karnataka's north and the national rail grid. Formal tender documents or project sanction orders will be the next tangible marker of progress.Pilgrims, traders, and the connectivity gap
The Hubballi-Varanasi corridor is not just about religion, though the pilgrimage angle dominates the politics. The route also serves students, traders, and migrant workers moving between northern Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. A tri-weekly service means more departure options, shorter waiting periods, and lower dependence on connecting trains through Mumbai or Pune. For the region's business community, it is a supply-chain and logistics gain as much as a convenience. The formal notification on the tri-weekly schedule — and the release of Hubballi station redevelopment plans — will tell whether this meeting produced a promise or a policy.Point of View
Giving voters a tangible infrastructure promise tied to the broader Modi connectivity narrative. The assurance, however, remains verbal; the real test is whether a gazette notification and project sanction follow before the next election cycle. For the BJP in North Karnataka, converting this promise into ground-level steel and concrete will matter more than the announcement itself.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which train runs between Hubballi and Varanasi?
Train number 07323/24 , the Hubballi-Varanasi Express, operates on this route and is now set to be upgraded to a tri-weekly service.
What is the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme?
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme , launched in 2023 , is an Indian Railways programme to modernise over 1,000 railway stations with improved passenger amenities, better infrastructure, and commercial facilities.
What new facilities will Hubballi railway station get?
Railway Minister Vaishnaw has agreed in principle to upgrade Hubballi station with modern parking, a shopping mall, a multiplex, restaurants, and other commercial outlets.
Why is the Hubballi-Varanasi train important for pilgrims?
Varanasi (Kashi) is one of Hinduism's holiest cities, and demand spikes sharply during the Shravan month. A tri-weekly service gives pilgrims from North Karnataka more departure options without relying on connecting trains via Mumbai or Pune.
Has the tri-weekly Hubballi-Varanasi train been officially notified?
Not yet. Railway Minister Vaishnaw gave a verbal assurance to Minister Pralhad Joshi ; a formal gazette notification and implementation order are still awaited.
