TEAM HERALD
CURCHOREM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s refusal to give permission for the doubling work of the Goa stretch of the Vasco-Hospet rail line has not gone down well within his party, with Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral deciding to request Parrikar to reconsider the decision and grant SWR permission to lay a parallel track at least up to Curchorem.
“I am with the people and I will support their demand for the parallel railway tracks,” Cabral told Herald.
It may be recalled that Parrikar had said the State government has refused permission for the proposed 407-km double line from Vasco to Hospet proposed by South Western Railway . The first phase of work to double the line along the Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco route was inaugurated by Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.
During Railway Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SDCM) S Vishnu Vardhan’s visit to the Curchorem Railway station on May 27, Cabral had asked the SDCM to lay a parallel rail track.
to resolve the problem of passengers and goods and had also assured to ask the government to provide financial support and additional land, wherever necessary, to the SWR.
Cabral also urged SWR authorities to start the work immediately on land owned by the railways.
“The parallel track is needed as it will solve the shortage of passenger trains on the route, as all important trains are diverted via the Konkan Railway. SWR is not introducing additional trains, as demanded by people, on grounds that it is not feasible to adjust the timing of connecting trains due to the single railway line from Goa,” informed Cabral.
The MLA said the Curchorem traders, particularly vegetable vendors, have been following an age-old practice, to bring goods, vegetables and other products from Belgaum, Hubli and Kholapur.
“People from this area feel that the train is the only convenient mode of transport for their business,” Cabral said.
as they can bring vegetables and other goods without much difficulties and damage,” added Cabral.
When contacted, Curchorem BJP Block President Ashish Karmali said he was not against the laying of parallel track, but added that the SWR should deal with the matter in a transparent way and should inform public of the benefits of the double rail line.
“If Goans are not going to benefit from this line, then what is the use of allotting them additional land in Goa,” asked Karmali.
“In any case, our demand is to introduce more passenger trains via Curchorem and grant a halt at Curchorem,” Karmali said.
