Konkan Railway route to be electrified: Prabhu

Making a slew of announcements in Goa Saturday, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said the Konkan Railway (KR) track will soon be fully electrified and double-lined.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) would also be inked with the Goa government to promote tourism along the KR route in the state, Prabhu said at a function organised by KR at the Karmali railway station, a short distance from Panaji.

"I have instructed the Railway Board that once the Konkan Railway sends across a proposal KR double-lining will start," Prabhu said.

He added that his office has also issued instructions to the Railway Board to clear the proposal for complete electrification of the KR route, where trains normally run on diesel.

Besides, the minister said in a bid to engage the local community in the four coastal states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, through which the KR route passes, a formal arrangement could be worked out with the state governments to train local residents in tourism activity.

"We should try to do that by engaging the community. We should develop win-win ideas like this," Prabhu said, adding that an MoU would soon be signed with the Goa government.

"The Goa government will provide input and Konkan Railway will provide funds and we can train people in tourism activity," Prabhu said.

Elaborating, Prabhu said rickshaw and auto-drivers who operate near Konkan Railway stations could be trained as tourist guides so that they could ferry around railway passengers and also help them as part-time guides.

"It will also boost KR because it will be a value addition," Prabhu said.