PM Modi Inaugurates Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express Train
Mangaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mangalore Central-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express train on Tuesday morning via video conference.
During the inauguration, the Prime Minister announced the launch of 10 Vande Bharat Express trains across the country, emphasizing that these trains signify a vision for the railway sector. He assured that this initiative reflects his commitment.
The green flag for the Vande Bharat train was shown by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel at Mangaluru Central Railway Station.
The event was attended by Mayor Sudhir Shetty Kannur, MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath, and Vidhan Parishad Opposition Deputy Leader Kota Srinivasa Pujari.
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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
