PANJIM: At least 40 per cent passengers of around 80 lakh tourists have travelled to Goa by train in 2019 year even the subsequent year was largely affected due to lockdown and restrictions owing to COVID-19 pandemic.
According to information shared by South Western Railway (SWR), an approximately 80 lakh tourists visited Goa in 2019 of which 32 lakh (approximately 40 per cent) travelled by train.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday had opined that double tracking will be a game-changer as it would benefit industries, tourism, passengers, etc. As per the SWR, completion of the rail project is expected to aid the increasing tourist arrivals in the State via train.
“The improved connectivity and additional number of passenger trains that can run on the enhanced infrastructure after completion of the double tracking project will also help improve trade line. Since the principal economic activity of Goa is tourism it will be a critical element in ensuring more and more tourists visit Goa making it the ‘Most preferred Tourist Destination’, since railway infrastructure shall be equipped to handle more number of passenger trains,” said an official.
According to the SWR, the doubling of track between Hospet (Karnataka) and Vasco-da-Gama (Goa) covering around 342 km will be a boom for Goa’s economy. While it is expected to give impetus to trade, it will also be instrumental in enabling easier and faster passenger movement.
