He was speaking after launching various projects on the KR route on Monday. He first inaugurated a travelator at Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and traffic model room-cum-exhibition centre at Margao. He also laid a foundation stone for the fourth platform at the Margao railway station. These facilities were launched and inaugurated from Vasco using a remote control during a function organized by Konkan Railways on Monday.
“We have decided to take up the doubling of the KR route, but it will be done only after consulting the people,” said Prabhu, adding, “My topmost priority is to provide good customer service to railway commuters. One should not forget that the railway has many challenges, but despite these challenges and adverse market conditions, we are trying to focus on customer services. Food, linen, and the train interiors – we are taking steps to offer good and comfortable services to travellers. The new locomotives that are being constructed will be equipped with better safety features.”
Referring to the Varanasi-Lucknow-Delhi train, which was recently flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prabhu said that the new train has far advanced features, which will also be emulated in the coaches to be constructed. He added, “I am sure that the people will work as a partner for development of the railway network in India.”
On the new facilities at key stations on the KR route, Prabhu said, “Ratnagiri and Margao railway stations are very important station on the KR route. The Ratnagiri station is in such a way that people had to climb several steps like they are climbing a mountain. For 25 years, old people as well as common citizens had to face this difficult task, but still no one thought of giving them the facility of travelator as the same is usually made available only in metro stations. But we decided to break the rules and offered this facility with the aim to provide better customer service.”
He continued, “Similarly, Margao railway station is another important station providing services to almost 45 trains daily, and thus, there was a demand to increase the number of platforms, to which we readily agreed. Soon there will be fourth platform at the station. As part of KR’s silver jubilee celebrations, a model room-cum exhibition-centre has been inaugurated in Margao.”
Prabhu also assured to resolve the long-pending demand of improving the railway over bridge near Tania Hotel in Vasco.
as the existing bridge has been restricting the movement of vehicles with a specific height.
