Konkan 2.0: Doubling Down on the Coastal Corridor

The Centre has initiated steps to double key sections of the Konkan Railway route, with a detailed project report (DPR) currently being prepared for approximately 263 km.

The update was shared by Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, underscoring ongoing efforts to enhance capacity and operational efficiency along the critical coastal corridor. The proposal follows concerns raised in Parliament regarding the need to improve travel speeds and increase handling capacity on the Konkan Railway line, which spans around 740 km between Roha in Maharashtra and Thokur in Karnataka.

According to the Railway Ministry, the DPR exercise is aimed at strengthening line capacity and streamlining train operations across the route.

So far, about 55 km of doubling work has been completed, including the Roha–Veer and Madgaon–Majorda sections. However, the remaining stretches will require substantial investment and coordinated funding support from stakeholder states, as the Konkan Railway Corporation has equity participation from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala.

The Centre also noted that any proposal to merge the Konkan Railway Corporation with Indian Railways would be subject to the consent of all participating state governments, ensuring a collaborative approach to any major structural changes.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.