PANJIM: The Union Ministry of Railways has announced a string of new projects for the State, including a bi-weekly Rajdhani train connecting Goa to Delhi and double-decker Goa-Mumbai Shatabdi Express.
The announcement came minutes after Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar urged Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu to give additional trains to Goa considering a large inflow of tourists, especially during long weekends.
“We will look into it but definitely make it happen as soon as possible. Besides the two trains, the IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd) will also begin trains during such holidays to bring in more tourists via rail to Goa,” Prabhu said after laying the foundation stone for the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology in Goa, at an event held at Goa University campus on Friday.
The chief minister had requested the Union minister for Rajdhani and Shatabdi Expresses on the two routes to ease movement of tourists. Pointing at frequent accidents on the Goa-Mumbai highways, Parsekar further stated that the Shatabdi Express will reduce the worry of possible accidents on the route.
“Tourists constitute more than 50 per cent of the local population during long holidays,” he said assuring that the requirement for the State will not put the railways into a loss. Parsekar added that the Centre can initially introduce trains on a weekly basis to later run them biweekly.
Prabhu also granted another State proposal for doubling of the Konkan Railway tracks. The work, he said, will kick off on November 8 and the entire route will be electrified.
“The electrification will not only save fuel costs but also be environment-friendly, particularly considering that KRC passes through a large portion of the Western Ghats. We are looking into the aspect of generating electricity from diverse source like wind and solar,” the Union minister stated.
