The Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL)’s plan to augment and enhance line capacity on its 736-km route connecting Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and parts of Kerala are under scanner due to delays in electrification and doubling works. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu has pulled up KRCL after finding out that the works were not progressing at the envisaged pace and as per the government’s schedule. The project was to achieve completion in three years starting 2015, but has fallen behind due to several “challenges” in the foundation works carried out at a cost of ₹710 crore.
During a recent meeting in New Delhi, KRCL chairman and managing director Sanjay Gupta informed the minister and Board members that the work is not progressing as planned. “A lot of challenges are being faced in the foundation works. The CMD said he is hoping these will be resolved post monsoon,” the minutes of the recent meeting with the Commerce and Railway Minister reads.
Senior State government officials who attended the meeting said Mr. Prabhu and Piyush Goyal, the Union Railway Minster, took stock of the ‘harsh’ observations on the progress report prepared by Railway Board Member Ghanshyam Singh, who carried out an inspection of the work in August. “Our Tourism Minister, Jaykumar Rawal, assured necessary action on behalf of the government, including setting up of budget hotels along the line,” a senior bureaucrat said.
The meeting was attended by Sandeep Dave, additional chief secretary, Government of Karnataka; KR Jyothilan, Principal Secretary, Government of Kerala; Manoj Saunik, Principal Secretary (Transport), Government of Maharashtra. It was unanimously agreed that the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and the Ministry of Science and Technology will help iron out issues in the foundation works. A memorandum of understanding has already been signed with NGRI on August 9.
The Konkan rail route is saturated from overuse and passenger overload while catering to popular routes such as Goa, with trains such as Jan Shatabdi and Rajya Rani packed to capacity all year round. The Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi routes are in dire need of enhancements owing to heavy overload. As a result, the route faces disruptions, landslides and delay during the monsoon.