First ever double-decker Shatabdi on Goa-Mumbai route: Prabhu

The country's first double-decker Shatabdi train will soon run between Mumbai and Goa, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday.

Speaking at a function organised by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd here to lay the foundation stone for the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology, he also said that efforts would be made to start a Rajdhani train from Goa to the national capital.

"One double decker AC train between Mumbai and Goa should run as Shatabdi. We will make it happen as soon as possible. This would become the first-ever double decker Shatabdi. I don't think there are any double-decker Shatabdi trains," Prabhu said.

Responding to a demand made by Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar for a Rajdhani train from Goa to Nrew Delhi, Prabhu said: "We will definitely look into it. I cannot give you a timeframe, but we will definitely make it."

He also said that a special train would be started along the Konkan Railway route in Goa by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation in order to cater to the state's tourist traffic.

"If you want, we can even start an IRCTC holiday train. We can also run it for you, so that we can bring more tourists to Goa, so that we can help Goa develop economically," Prabhu said.

Goa, a top beach tourism destination in the country attracts over three million tourists.