The Hubballi-Varanasi train service will soon be increased to three days a week, while the Hubballi railway station will be upgraded with modern facilities, Union Minister for Education, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.

Mr. Joshi, who met with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Wednesday, said in a press release that he had raised several long-pending demands of passengers from north Karnataka.

On his request for operating the existing Hubballi-Varanasi train (Nos. 07323/07324) three days a week to improve connectivity between north Karnataka and Varanasi, Mr. Vaishnaw assured me that the frequency of the service would be increased soon, Mr. Joshi said.

Mr. Vaishnaw agreed to upgrade the Hubballi railway station with modern and high-tech facilities on the lines of an airport. The upgraded station was expected to have organised parking facilities, a shopping mall, multiplex, modern restaurants and commercial outlets, besides other passenger amenities, Mr. Joshi said.

Mr. Joshi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna for according priority to improving passenger and pilgrim connectivity in north Karnataka.