Along with launching Yellow Line, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to take a ride on the metro and also flag off the extended Vande Bharat Express to Belagavi on August 10, in what is shaping up to be a major public event.

The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leaving no stone unturned to turn the twin inaugurations into a high-profile occasion, with preparations being led by Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South MP.

The announcement by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday confirming the Yellow Line’s inauguration by the Prime Minister has propelled the BJP’s event machinery into full gear.

Meetings were held on Sunday, including a key preparatory gathering in the evening at Jayanagar, where State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok, and Mr. Surya discussed logistics.

According to BJP sources, Mr. Modi is expected to first arrive at the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) station to inaugurate the new Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru and Belagavi. Following this, he may take a ride on the metro from Ragigudda station to Electronics City, one of the city’s major tech corridors or vice-versa.

“The visit is expected to conclude with a public address at Shalini grounds, though the Prime Minister’s Office is yet to confirm the exact sequence of events,” sources added.

The State BJP also conducted a groundbreaking ceremony at Chandragupta Maurya ground on Monday for the event preparation.

Vande Bharat inauguration 

Meanwhile, a senior official from South Western Railway (SWR) said the Prime Minister’s Office is expected to formally confirm the Vande Bharat inauguration by Tuesday morning. The new train will be an extension of the existing Bengaluru–Hubballi–Dharwad service and will begin its journey from Belagavi in the morning, reaching Bengaluru and returning later.

The extension fulfills a long-standing demand from residents of the Kittur Karnataka region, improving rail connectivity with the State capital. A formal proposal was approved by the Railway Ministry after a high-level delegation led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, including BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Iranna Kadadi, met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in March 2025 to press for the route’s expansion.

Officials describe the move as a key step toward enhancing train connectivity between the two cities. “The extension to Belagavi will not only reduce travel time but also improve comfort and connectivity across major districts in Karnataka. It is expected to greatly benefit professionals, students, and business travellers,” a Railway official said.