VASCO: The double track railway lines from Tinaighat in Karnataka to Vasco, which is one of the long pending projects of South Western Railways (SWR), would be completed before 2018, and this would help the Mormugao Port Trust to facilitate easy transportation of cargo which arrives by sea, informed MPT’s acting Chairman Cyril George.
According to information, the Union Ministry of Shipping had directed all the major ports, including MPT, to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to provide efficient rail evacuation systems, thereby enhancing their handling capacity and efficiency. Following the direction, the MPT requested the railway ministry to construct a double railway track between Vasco and Tinaighat.
George said that the doubling of railway line is one of the essential facilities which MPT should have, adding, if double lines were available, then, the MPT would be in a position to increase the speed of evacuation at least by 25 per cent. “Recently, this matter was taken up with the railways where the ministry has consented to complete the project within three years, after which the MPT would be in position to increase the movement of cargo by 25 per cent. Presently, the MPT is evacuating about nine to ten rakes per day, and once the railway line is in place, it would increase the same to 14 rakes per day,” he said.
When asked about the fear of locals who are staying adjacent to the railway line that they would be displaced once the work of doubling of railway line commenced, George said, “The railways have its own scheme to provide compensation under well stipulated norms to protect the interest of the people. I don’t think that there would be any major issue with laying down double track, which would be laid parallel to the existing track.”
Although the ambitious project of double track from Tinaighat to Vasco railway station has got the go ahead, clearing the encroachments along the SWR railway route in Mormugao would be a difficult work, feel the authorities.
