MARGAO: Hopes have been raised in the Konkan Railway Corporation that a friendly Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu would not only bail out the Konkan Railway but will spur development in the neglected Konkan region.
In fact, Konkan railway officials said the KRC has started receiving the right inputs since Prabhu took over the reigns of the railway ministry. Prabhu’s call for promotion of Konkan products and plan for electrification of the Konkan Railway is being viewed as positive signals emanating from the Centre, expected to give a boost to the region’s development.
KRC Sr Manager, Public Relations, Baban Ghatge said that the proposal to double the Konkan railway route, the Karmali lake resort, Interpretation centre at Karmali station, the up-gradation of the Thivim railway station and Sawantwadi terminal will go a long way in development railway infrastructure and amenities to the passengers. “Konkan Railway was constructed during 1991-98 and it became fully operational from 1998. This is the only project where all along Konkan route, people came willingly to hand over their land for Konkan Railway project. Though 25 years have elapsed since formation of the company, the area of Konkan belt has not been developed further. Konkan Railway was not strengthened and the required inputs were not given to Konkan Railway. After taking over as Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu has sent the right signals to the KR. It is certain that KR will see a lot of development activities. This surely will bring development of Konkan belt, which has been neglected for so long”, Ghatge added.
What’s interesting to note is that the Railway Minister had promised to introduce a tourist train linking Mumbai and Goa and the first special tourist train will run from Mumbai CST to Margao on December 29. The KRC has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation to run the tourist train.
