Konkan Railway which connects the states of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka, passing through some of India’s most beautiful landscape, is in for a major overhaul, with close to Rs 20,000 crore of projects in the pipeline.
The doubling of the 714-km section and its electrification are two projects that will bring about a marked improvement in the quality of passenger travel and freight movement on the line. The network is also commencing work on three links to connect the industries and ports of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka with the hinterland. The Chiplun-Karad, Vaibhavwadi-Kolhapur and Jaigad-Dighni projects (see map) are expected to boost growth in the region.
The 103-km line between Chiplun and Karad would help move cargo from ports in Maharashtra. The lack of rail connectivity between the Central and Konkan regions results in longer supply routes for power plants in northern Karnataka and southern Maharashtra. The Chiplun-Karad line would entail 425 km less of travel as compared to the Panvel route and 592 km vis-a-vis the Madgaon one. It will be built through public private partnership and benefit the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Latur, Parli and Solapur.
Similarly, the Rs 3,500-crore Vaibhavwadi-Kolhapur line would be the first one to connect Central Railway and Konkan Railway. It would also provide connectivity to Jaigad port—KRCL has already partnered with JSW Ports Limited for linking Jaigad port to Dighni on the Konkan line.
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Kolhapur’s industry would get a boost with this link. The city’s textile base and its footwear and handicraft industries stand to gain from it— around R1,500 crore of exports leaving Kolhapur’s foundries would have easier access to overseas markets as a result of the connectivity to Jaigad port.
Sanjay Gupta, chairman and managing director, KRCL tells Fe all efforts are being made to rope in private participation for port connectivity projects. The Vaibhavwadi-Kolhapur link would be built under the aegis of the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation, with 50% funding from Maharashtra state, even as
efforts are on to find a private stakeholder. KRCL estimates a 20% growth in freight volumes on account of these initiatives.
The corporation is also investing in passenger travel, having spent close to R3,000 crore on passenger amenities in the last three financial years, with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s agenda to revamp the Indian Railways reinforcing efforts in that direction.
“A new halt station has been inaugurated at Veravali in Ratnagiri district; Sawantwadi Terminal phase I is near completion; and a major upgrade of our flagship Madgaon station is being planned. Close to 11 new stations have been sanctioned and an announcement will be made shortly,” Gupta says.
Among the passenger-friendly initiatives is the Shravan Seva, under which attendants help senior citizens with their luggage. A Sarathi Seva has been launched for differently abled passengers; there are dedicated helpline numbers for availing these services. KRCL has also started a toll-free number for information on train status and a dedicated number to report travel complaints.
It is expected that containerised movement of cargo from Goa and Mangalore would also start in the near future. At present, the container freight moves by road from Goa and Mangalore ports to Mumbai/Gujarat. With MRPL becoming functional at Mangalore, some of the related petroleum products are expected to be moved by rail towards Mumbai/Gujarat, as also internal Karnataka, Gupta said.